Effect of Different Sowing Seasons and Row Spacing on Seed Production of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in Pakistan, during 2002-03 to study the effect of different sowing seasons (autumn and spring) and row spacing (40, 50, 60 and 70 cm) on seed production of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare). Data were recorded for seed germination, plant height, umbel appearance, umbel maturity, seed weight per umbel and seed yield. Autumn sowing resulted in earliest germination (8.3 days), and greatest plant height (134.8 cm), seed weight per umbel (2.5 g) and seed yield (418.7 kg/ha). Of the row spacings, 40 cm gave the greatest plant height (114.7 cm), seed weight per umbel (2.2 g) and seed yield/ha (369.7 kg), while the lowest plant height (78.1 cm), seed weight per umbel (1.8 g) and seed yield/ha (192.5 kg) were recorded with the 70-cm spacing. The interaction of autumn sowing and 40-cm row spacing gave the highest seed yield (560.5 kg/ha).