| Fennel generally
known as Saunf (Foeniculum vulgare) belongs to
Apiacae family, which is mainly cultivated in Gujarat,
Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. It is used as condiment
and culinary spice. Fennel is cultivated in about
25,000 ha with a production of about 30,000 MT in
our country. |
|
| Fennel requires
cool- dry climate. Frost prone areas should be avoided
as this crop is susceptible to frost. Well drained
loamy soil and black cotton soils are suitable for
cultivation of this crop. Rain fall during maturity
spoil colour and reduce quality of fennel seeds.
Generally, fennel is cultivated as Kharif as well
as Rabi crop. |
| 1. Varieties:Improved
varieties like PF-35, Guj. F-1 and Guj.F-2 etc.
give better yield than the old varieties. Time taken
to reach maturity stage by fennel varieties PF-35,
Guj. F-1 and Guj. F-2 as Kharif crop are 216, 208
and 207 days respectively. |
| 2. Nursery
operations: |
| i) Land
preparation for nursery: The land should
be brought to fine tilth by 2-3 ploughing. For transplanting
one hectare land, nursery should be raised in 100
sq. meter area. Manures and fertilizers should be
mixed in soil properly at the time of land preparation.
Beds of 3 m x 1 m size should be prepared for nursery.
ii) Sowing time and seed rate:
15th June is suitable time for sowing of seeds
in nursery. 2-2.5 kg seeds per 100 sq.m area should
be broadcasted / sown in the nursery beds. Seed
should be treated with organo-mercurial fungicides
like Ceresan or Captan @ 3 gm per kg seed before
sowing. To get good germination, beds should be
covered with plant waste for up to 12 days. Tender
seedlings should be protected from direct sunlight,
till they are under danger, by erecting temporary
shed over the bed. When seedlings are free from
the danger of sunlight, temporary shed should
be lifted.
iii) Manures and Fertilizers:
250 kg F.Y.M, 0.6 kg Nitrogen and 0.3 kg Phosphorous
should be applied per 100 sq. m nursery area.
Whole quantity of FYM should be mixed in soil
at the time of land preparation and whole dose
of Nitrogen & Phosphorous should be applied
as basal dose. Supplementary dose of urea can
be applied 3 weeks after germination of seeds,
if seedlings are very weak.
iv) Weeding: For control of
weeds in nursery, 1 - 2 hand weeding should be
done depending on weed growth.
v) Irrigation: First light irrigation
should be given just after sowing and second after
3 to 4 days after sowing and then light irrigations
are given as and when required to keep the soil
moist up to full germination. Later on irrigations
are given at and interval of 2-3 days. About 45
days old seedlings are used for transplanting. |
| 3. Land
preparation & transplanting: Land should
be brought to fine tilth by one ploughing followed
by 2 or 3 harrowing and planking. Transplanting
of seedling in main field should be done during
evening time. Suitable time for taking up transplanting
of fennel is around 15th August. |
| 4. Spacing:
Fennel seedlings should be transplanted at a spacing
of 90 x 60 cm or 100 x 60 cm. |
| 5. Manures
and Fertilizers: 20 MT F.Y.M, 100 kg Nitrogen
and 60 kg Phosphorous per ha is recommended for
Kharif fennel. Whole quantity of FYM should be mixed
in soil at the time of land preparation and 40 kg
of Nitrogen & whole dose of Phosphorous should
be used applied as basal dose. Remaining 60 kg Nitrogen
should be top dressed in two equal splits of 30
kg each at an interval of 30 days and 60 days (at
the time of earthing up) after transplanting. |
| 6. Interculture:
First intercultural operation/hoeing should
be done 20-25 days after transplanting. Intercultural
operations should be repeated twice based on need
at an interval of 20-25 days. Earthing up is done
after 60-75 days from transplanting to check the
lodging of plants. If necessary 2 to 3 hand weedings
should also be done. |
| 7. Irrigation:
Fennel is a long duration crop, during
dry spell in monsoon and after the Monsoon; it should
be irrigated as per the need. Generally 10-12 irrigations
are given to fennel crop depending on soil and climate.
Irrigation interval is longer in black soils as
compared to light soils. Irrigation at the time
of seed development is critical, therefore due attention
should be given. First irrigation should be given
on the day of transplanting and subsequent irrigations
should be given at an interval of 15-20 days up
to February. |
| 8. Plant
Protection: |
| a) Diseases |
| In Nursery:
Damping of seedlings: Damping off is
a fungal disease. Infected plants show symptoms
of dehydration / wilting. Drenching of nursery
beds with Blitox @ 20 g per 10 litre water should
be done to control this disease effectively.
After transplanting
i) Collar rot: This disease
appears in those plots where water stagnation
near the plant stem is more. Collar portion of
the plant start decaying and the plants turn to
yellow colour & die later on. Drenching by
1% Bordeaux mixture (3:3:50) or spray with 0.2%
solution of any copper fungicides should be done
to control the disease. Avoid water stagnation
in the field.
ii) Ramularia Blight: At the
begining of this disease small ashy spots are
observed on the leaves. These spots get enlarged
and turn into brown colour. In case of severe
attack whole plant turns to brown colour, resulting
in drying up of plant. At the initial stage spraying
of 0.2 % solution of Dithane-M-45 is effective
to control this disease. Add 1 ml soap solution
/ liter of water for better efficacy. Subsequently,
2-3 sprayings should be done at an interval of
10 to 15 days on need basis.
iii) Sugary Secretion: It is
a physiological disorder, due to which flowers
secrete sugary substance; attracting fungus from
outside. Due to this disorder, quality and production
of crop is affected. This phenomenon is observed
in those plots which have been highly manured
and irrigated under heavy dewfall and cold
condition. Sugary secretion spreads on flower
parts, stem etc. Due to this mold and other fungus
develop on plants causing black and gummy appearance.
The sugary secretion, attracts aphids too and
these insects attack the plants. Combined effect
of above gives false appearance of disease, but
really sugary secretion is not a disease. For
the control of this disorder, stop irrigation
and manuring. Spraying of 0.03% solution of Dimethoate
or 0.05 % solution of Phosphamidone or any systemic
pesticide should be done to control the aphids. |
| b)Pests: |
| After transplanting
i) Aphids: Aphid sucks the sap
of tender parts of plants and affects the growth,
adversely. Spraying of 0.03% solution of Dimethoate
or 0.05 % solution of Phosphamidone or any systemic
pesticide should be done to control the aphids.
|
| 9. Harvesting: |
| Harvesting is done
by cutting the umbels as and when they reach to
physiological maturity (when seeds are fully filled
up & green in colour). After cutting the umbels
they are dried in partial shade. While drying, care
should be taken for better aeration and umbels should
be turned if necessary. The seeds are separated
by beating the dry umbels with sticks followed by
winnowing. Grading is done with the help of sieve
or vibrator. For seed purpose, fully matured umbels
are harvested. |
| 10. Yield:
2000 to 2500 Kg/ha. |
| 1. Nursery
operations: |
| a. Land
preparation for nursery: The land should
be brought to fine tilth by 2-3 ploughing. Nursery
should be raised in about 150-200 sq. m land for
transplanting one hectare area. Manures and fertilizers
should be mixed in the soil properly at the time
of land preparation. Beds of 3 m x 1 m size should
be prepared for raising of nursery.
b. Sowing time and seed rate:
Suitable time for sowing of seeds in nursery is
from last week of August to 1st week of September.
2.5-3.0 kg seed should be sown in the nursery
beds per 150 – 200 sq. m area. Seed should
be treated with any organo-mercurial fungicides
like Ceresan or Captan @ 3.0 g per kg seed before
sowing. To get good germination beds should be
covered with plant waste. Tender seedlings should
be protected from direct sunlight, if there is
any danger.
c. Manures and Fertilizers:
375 to 500 kg FYM, 1.0-1.2 kg Nitrogen & 0.5-0.6
kg Phosphorous should be applied per 150 - 200
sq. m nursery area. Whole quantity of FYM should
be mixed in soil at the time of land preparation
and Nitrogen & Phosphorous should be used
as basal dose. Supplementary dose of Nitrogen
can be given 3 weeks after germination of seeds,
if seedlings are very weak.
c. Manures and Fertilizers:
375 to 500 kg FYM, 1.0-1.2 kg Nitrogen & 0.5-0.6
kg Phosphorous should be applied per 150 - 200
sq. m nursery area. Whole quantity of FYM should
be mixed in soil at the time of land preparation
and Nitrogen & Phosphorous should be used
as basal dose. Supplementary dose of Nitrogen
can be given 3 weeks after germination of seeds,
if seedlings are very weak.
d. Weeding: For control of weeds
in nursery, 1 - 2 hand weeding should be done
depending on weed growth.
e. Irrigation: First light irrigation
should be given just after sowing and second after
3 to 4 days after sowing and then light irrigations
are given to keep the soil moist up to full germination
as per requirement. Later on irrigations should
be given at an interval of 2-3 days. About 40-45
days old seedlings are used for transplanting. |
| 2. Land
preparation & transplanting: |
| Land should be
brought to fine tilth by one ploughing followed
by 2 or 3 harrowing and planking. Transplanting
of seedlings in main field should be done during
evening time and it should be ensured that optimum
moisture is available in the soil. Suitable time
for taking up transplanting of fennel is around
15th October. |
| 3. Spacing:
|
| Fennel seedlings
should be transplanted adopting a spacing of 45
x 10 cm. |
| 4. Manures
and Fertilizers: |
| 20 MT of F.Y.M.,
90 kg Nitrogen and 45 kg Phosphorous per ha is recommended
for Rabi transplanted fennel. Whole quantity of
F.Y.M. should be mixed in the soil at the time of
land preparation and half dose of Nitrogen (45 kg)
and full dose of Phosphorous (45 kg) should be applied
as basal dose. Remaining 45 kg Nitrogen should be
applied as top dressing in two equal splits of 22.5
kg each at an interval of 30 days and 60 days (at
the time of earthing up) after transplanting. |
| 5. Interculture: |
| First intercultural
operation/hoeing should be done 20-25 days after
transplanting. Intercultural operations should be
repeated twice based on need at an interval of 20-25
days. Earthing up is done after 60-75 days of transplanting
to check the lodging of plants. If necessary 2 to
3 hand weedings should also be done. |
| 6. Irrigation: |
| Generally 8-10
irrigations are given to Rabi fennel crop depending
on soil and climate. Irrigation at the time of seed
development is critical, therefore due attention
is needed. First irrigation should be applied on
the day of transplanting and subsequent irrigations
should be given at an interval of 15-20 days up
to February. |
| 7. Plant
Protection: Similar to Kharif crop. |
| 8. Yield:
1800 to 2000 Kg/ha. |
| 1. Land
Preparation: |
| One ploughing followed by
two harrowing and planking should be done to bring
the soil to fine tilth for sowing of drilled fennel
crop (Rabi). Stubbles of previous crop should be
removed. |
| 2. Sowing
time & Seed rate: |
| Optimum time for
sowing is around 15th October. 5-6 kg of seed/ ha
is required for sowing drilled fennel crop. |
| 3. Spacing:
|
| 45 to 60 cm. between
the line and 10 to 15 cm between the plants. |
| 4. Manuring
& Fertilizers: |
| 25 MT of F.Y.M.,
90 kg Nitrogen and 45 kg Phosphorous per ha is recommended
for Rabi drilled fennel. Whole quantity of FYM /ha
should be mixed in the soil at the time of land
preparation. Half dose of Nitrogen (45 kg) and full
dose of Phosphorous should be applied as basal dose.
Remaining 45 kg of Nitrogen in two equal splits
of 22.5 kg each should be top dressed at an interval
of 30 days and 60 days after sowing. |
| 5. Sowing
: |
| i) Sowing
after irrigation: Suitable beds should
be prepared and irrigated. Under vapsa condition,
two harrowing followed by planking should be done.
Basal dose of Nitrogen & potash should applied
by drilling in lines. To achieve good germination,
seed should be soaked in water for 8 hours and dried
in shade before sowing. Seeds also should be sown
by drilling in lines at appropriate depth. Light
irrigation should be given after 6 to 7 days. Seed
germinates after 12 to 14 days.
ii) Dry sowing:
Seeds should be drilled in lines 45 cm apart at
a depth of about 1.0 cm & irrigated after
preparing suitable beds Second irrigation should
be given after 7-8 days from the first irrigation. |
| 6. Interculture
and earthing up: |
| For control of
weeds; 2 or 3 hand weeding should be done on need
basis. First light intercultural operation should
be undertaken 20-25 days after sowing. Second and
third intercultural operation should be done after
40 to 60 days from sowing. At the time of third
intercultural operation harrow should be adjusted
in such a way that it can throw sufficient soil
near the base of the plants to supplement the earthing
up operation. |
| 7. Irrigation: |
| 8-10 irrigations
should be given to Rabi drilled fennel crop depending
on soil and climate. Irrigation at the time of seed
development is critical, therefore due attention
should be given. First irrigation should be applied
on the day of sowing, second light irrigation after
7 to 8 days from 1st irrigation and subsequent irrigations
should be given at an interval of 15-20 days up
to February. |
| 8. Plant protection:As
in Kharif fennel. |
| 9. Harvesting: |
| Rabi crop is raised
for market type produce. Hence, harvest
should be done when 70% umbels reach at physiological
maturity, by cutting upper half portion of the plants.
Harvested plants should be dried & seeds are
separated by thrashing followed by winnowing. |
| 10. Yield:
1500 to 1800 Kg/ha. |