Plant Growth, Yield, Macro and Micro-Nutrients Uptake of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) Positively Affected by N-Sources and Rates as well as Foliar Application of Micronutrients

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt

Abstract

This study was carried out in order to give some information that could improve fennel nutritional status and
productivity. We studied the effect of two N fertilizers [ammonium nitrate (AN) and ammonium sulphate (AS)], two
nitrogen rates (60 and 90 kg N/fad.) and two levels of micronutrients (without and with FeEDTA, MnEDTA and
ZnEDTA) on growth, yield and nutrient (N, P, K, Fe, Mn and Zn) uptake on fennel plants cv. Florence. The results
indicated that, ammonium sulphate at level of 90 kg/fad. enhanced plant growth, production of dry matter and improved
yield (foliage, bulb and total). Nutritional status of fennel plants was improved, whereas the ammonium sulphate at
level of 90 kg/fad. and spraying of the micronutrient mixture increased the uptake of macronutrients (N, P and K) and
micronutrients (Fe, Mn and Zn). The present study suggests that foliar application of micronutrients could be an
effective strategy in bio-fortifying fennel plants with Fe, Mn and Zn to produce foliage and bulb yield with high
nutritional quality.

Keywords