Effect of nitrogen and irrigation on water use, moisture-extraction pattern, nutrient uptake and yield of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

A field experiment was conducted during the winter seasons of 2001–03 at Agricultural Research Station, Sriganganagar, Rajasthan, to study the water use, nutrient uptake, yield and economics of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) cultivars under vrious levels of nitrogen and irrigations. The highest yield (25.16 and 19.04 q/ha) and yield attributes were recorded with 80 kg N/ha. Net returns and gross returns and benefit: cost ratio were also the highest at 80 kg N/ha. Increasing levels of nitrogen also recorded higher consumptive use of water and significantly higher nutrients uptake. Higher level of nitrogen extracted more water from lower depth of rhizosphere than lower level of N. With an increase in irrigation frequency from IW: CPE ratio 0.4 to 0.8, yield and most of the yield attributes increased significantly. Similarly, water use and nutrients uptake were also higher with higher levels of irrigation. At lower irrigation level (IW: CPE ratio 0.4) more water was extracted from upper layers than higher irrigation level. Increasing levels of irrigation also recorded higher gross, net returns and benefit: cost ratio. Between the 2 varieties, ‘RF 125’ outperformed ‘RF101’.