Effect of Bio-fertilizers on Yield and Its Attributing Traits on Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare L.)

Abstract

The present investigation entitled Effect of Bio-Fertilizers on Yield and Its Attributing Traits on Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare L.) was carried out during October, 2022 to April 2023 at Horticultural Research Field, Department of Horticulture, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology And Sciences. It was concluded that the application of bio fertilizer treatments rendered their significant effect on almost all the growth, developmental as well as yield characters of fennel. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with nine treatments in three replications as follows- T0- RDF(50:10:10 kg /ha),T1-90 % N + Azospirillum (5kg/ha), T2- 90 % N + Azotobacter (5kg/ha), T3- 90 % P + PSB(5kg/ha), T4 -90 % N + 90 % P + Azospirillum (5kg/ha) + PSB(5kg/ha),T5- 90 % N + 90 % P + Azotobacter (5kg/ha) + PSB(5kg/ha), T6 -90 % N + Azospirillum (5kg/ha) + Azotobacter (5kg/ha), T7 - 90 % N + 90 % P + Azotobacter (5kg/ha) + Azospirillum (5kg/ha) + PSB (5kg/ha),T8 - 90 % N + 90 % P + Azotobacter (2.5kg/ha) + Azospirillum (2.5kg/ha) + PSB (2.5kg/ha).The treatment T7, i.e. 90 % N + 90 % P + Azotobacter (5kg/ha) + Azospirillum (5kg/ha) + PSB (5kg/ha) application was found superior in terms of plant height (203.47cm), number of branches (15.55), days taken for 50% flowering (105.33 days),days taken for maturity (159.68 days), number of umbels per plant (14.61), number of umbelletes per umbel (23.16), number of seeds per umbelletes (33.90), seed yield per plant (30.80 g/plant), seed yield per hectare (2.41 t/ha) and test weight (7.17 g). Among the different treatments the highest gross return (Rs/ha) (3,61,500), net return (Rs/ha) (2,42,04.7), benefit: cost ratio (3.02) was also obtained from treatment (T7), that is, 90 % N + 90 % P + Azotobacter (5kg/ha) + Azospirillum (5kg/ha) + PSB (5kg/ha).