Abstract
BackgroundWeed occurrence and fertilization are considered two of the most factors influencing fennel yield. A two season’s field study was undertaken to investigate the response of fennel crop to two different herbicides under the application of biofertilizers. The two herbicides are pendimethalin (at reduced rate), fluazifop-p butyl and a combination of sequential application of both of them. The biofertilizers were used in 3 rates of 1:1:1, 2:1:1 and 1:1:2 (v/v/v) from atmospheric nitrogen-fixating, phosphorous-dissolving and potassium-solubilizing bacterial strains.ResultsThe results indicated that under all rates of the biofertilizers, the two herbicides applied individually caused significant reduction in growth parameters of the fennel plant estimated. Hand weeding (untreated check) increased fruit yield by 63% and oil yield by 78% compared to unweeded control, while sequential application of pendimethalin + fluazifop increased fruit yield by 45% and oil yield by 83% under biofertilizers at the rate of 2:1:1. Slight decrease in protein content using pendimethalin + fluazifop (12.94, and 12.96%) compared to 13.56% for hand weeding was observed. However, fluazifop alone showed no significant differences (13.63 and 13.13%) during both seasons under the biofertilizer rate of 2:1:1. No detectable residues of pendimethalin and fluazifop applied alone or sequentially were found in the analyzed dry seeds.ConclusionThe obtained results concluded that using proper level of biofertilizer combined with herbicides would increase the seed yield and oil content of fennel. Nevertheless, further investigation is needed to search for safer and effective weed control methods in medicinal plants.
Highlights
Weed occurrence and fertilization are considered two of the most factors influencing fennel yield
Effect of biofertilizer levels on fennel growth yield parameters and fruit chemical composition in the two seasons The present study clearly shows that growth, yield and fruit chemical features of fennel significantly responded to various levels of the application of biofertilizers
The lowest increase resulted by the high level of potassium solubilizing bacteria in Biofertilizer at ratio of 1 (F3) level is as follows: 87.68, 88.90 cm for plant height, 207.71, 213.76 g for plant fresh weight, 21.39, 21.39 for number of branches/plant and 18.31, 23.88 for number of Biofertilizer Growth parameters treatments*
Summary
Weed occurrence and fertilization are considered two of the most factors influencing fennel yield. Weeds can affect quality of the essential oils content (Wall and Friesen 1986; Zheljazkov and Zhalnov 1995) Both quantitative and qualitative yield losses due to weed infestation have been largely studied in field and vegetable crops. Research on this subject in medicinal plants (e.g., fennel) is limited due to some very specific features of these crops. The main objectives of this work were to: (1) investigate the influence of the interaction of the two selected herbicides and the biofertilizers on growth of fennel plants, fruit/seed yield and seed oil quality; (2) determine herbicide residues in the fruits at the harvest time to protect food consumers from adverse effects may occur
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
