EFFECT OF SEEDING RATE ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF NONCHEMICAL FENNEL (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) CULTIVATION

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effects of different seeding rates on yield and quality characteristics of fennel without using any chemical fertilizers and pesticides, in Atabey-Isparta ecological conditions during 2010 and 2011 vegetation periods. The experiment was established as randomized blocks design with three replications and three seeding rates (10, 15 and 20 kg ha-1) were applied. Plant height, fruit yield and biological yield were significantly affected by seeding rate.  Fruit yields ranged between 230.35 and 790.96 kg ha-1 and the highest yield was obtained from 15 kg ha-1 seeding rate. Essential oil contents ranged between 1.60 and 2.46%. The main constituent of the essential oil was identified as trans-anethole ranged between 84.48% and 97.79%.