Optimization of Drip Irrigation Scheduling, Crop Geometry and Mulching for Growth, Yield attributes and Yields of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)

The field experiment was conducted at Niche Area of Excellence Farm, S.K. Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner (Rajasthan) during the rabi season of 2015-16 and 2016-17 for optimization of an appropriate drip irrigation schedule under proper crop geometry for maximizing fennel productivity. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design comprising of four irrigation levels in the main plot, three crop geometry in the sub-plot and two mulch treatments in the sub-subplot and replicated three times. The results revealed that growth attributes viz. plant height (117.8 cm), dry matter accumulation (48.72 g plant-1) at harvest and total chlorophyll content (1.83 mg g-1 of fresh leaves) at 75 DAS, yield attributes viz. number of umbels per plant (20.42), test weight (7.10 g), and seed yield (1684 kg ha-1) were recorded as significantly highest with drip irrigation scheduled at 0.8 ETc on pooled result basis. Under crop geometry, paired row sowing of 40 cm x 60 cm recorded significantly higher growth, yield attributes, and seed yield of fennel. Moreover, use of plastic mulch significantly increased yield attributes and yield as compared to without mulch treatment. Thus, in arid and semi-arid parts of Rajasthan, integrated use of drip irrigation scheduled at 0.8 ETc and plastic mulch under paired row sowing of 40 cm x 60 cm proved more viable for ensuring higher productivity of rabi fennel.