Effect of date of sowing and nitrogen levels on growth, yield and quality of fennel

An experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2008-09 to study the effect of date of sowing and nitrogen on the productivity and quality of fennel. The experiment consisting of 3 dates of sowing (15(th) September, 30(th) September and 15(th) October) and 4 levels of nitrogen (0, 60, 80 and 100 kg N ha(-1)) was laid in factorial randomize block design. Early sowing i.e., 15(th) September recorded significantly highest seed yield and yield attributes of fennel compared with late sown conditions. Similarly, application of 100 kg N/ha significantly increased the growth, yield attributes and yield of fennel compared with lower nitrogen levels. Sowing on 15(th) September + 100 kg N/ha (D1N4) resulted in the maximum net profit of Rs. 86,369 ha(-1) with a B:C ratio of 7.14:1.