Growth and Productivity of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare, Mill) Plants as Affected by Phosphorus Rate and Nano-Micronutrients Concentration

Abstract

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of different phosphorus fertilization rates at [0.0, 30 and 45 kg/feddan as P2O5, nano micronutrients concentrations (0.0, 250, 500 and 100 mg/l) as well as their combinations on growth and production of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare, L.). A field experiment was carried out at Experimental Farm (Ghazala Farm), Fac. Agric., Zagazig Univ., Egypt, during the two winter consecutive seasons of 2017/2018 and 2018/2019. Phosphorus fertilization as main plots and nano-micronutrients called Magro NanoMix which contained (Fe 6%, Zn 6%, B 2%, Mn 5%, Cu 1% and Mo 0.1%) as subplots were considered. The obtained results showed the importance of the nano-micronutrients on improving fennel growth, fruits and volatile oil yield compared to control. Fennel plants treated with phosphorus fertilizer or/and nano micronutrients instigated critical increments in vegetative growth (plant height and branch number/plant as well as dry weight of herb/plant), yield (number of inflorescence /plant, fruit yield/plant and /feddan), volatile oil production (volatile oil percentage and yield/plant and /feddan) and some chemical constituents (total phosphorus, total carbohydrates percentage and total chlorophyll content), as contrasted and un-treated plants. In general, 45 kg P2O5/feddan + 500 or 1000 mg/l of nano-micronutrients as foliar spray had significant effects in above mentioned parameters of fennel plant compared to the other combinations under Sharkia Governorate conditions.