Effect of planting geometry and stage of harvesting and their interaction on yield attributes and seed yield of Rabi fennel (foeniculum vulgare MILL.) under South Gujarat condition

The field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2007–08 at the Research Farm of Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari for evaluating the effect of planting geometry and stage of harvesting and their interaction on yield attributes and seed yield of rabi fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Millo) under south Gujarat condition. Planting geometry 90 X 30 cm (G₄) and 60 x 30 cm (G₂) were equally effective in improving almost all the yield parameters studied. However, these treatments failed to touch the yield level recorded under closer planting geometry 60 X 15 cm (G₁). The seed weight planf¹ and test weight were significantly higher under full length green seed stage of harvest (S₂). Growing crop at 60 X 15 cm (G₁) geometry found most remunerative with maximum net realization of Rs 55533 ha⁻¹ and higher (Benefit Cost Ratio) BCR of 3.12. Harvesting at full length green seed stage (S₂) found most remunerative with maximum net realization of Rs 42087 ha⁻¹ with BCR 2.40. The present study can be concluded that higher and profitable yield of rabi fennel (Cv. Gujarat Fennel-2) can be secured by growing crop at 60 X 15 cm and harvesting at full length green seed stage.