Effects of weed management practices on growth, yield and economics of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2011-12 at S.D. Agricultural University Sardarkrushinagar to find out economically viable method of weed control in fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.). The experiment was laidout in randomized block design with four replications. Results revealed that besides weed free treatment significantly the highest plant height at all the growth stages, number of branches per plant, yield attributes such as number of umbels per plant, number of umbellates per umbel, number of seeds per umbellate, seed and straw yields of fennel were recorded with application of Pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg/ha as PE+ HW at 45 DAS being at par with the treatment of HW and interculturing at 25 DAS + 45 DAS. Similarly, the lowest dry weight of weeds at harvest and weed index as well as weed control efficiency were obtained with application of Pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg/ha as PE+ HW at 45 DAS being at par with the treatment of HW and interculturing at 25 DAS + 45 DAS. Maximum net return and BCR were recorded with the application of Pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg/ha as PE + HW at 45 DAS over rest of the treatments.