Essential Oil and Chemical Conestituents of Fennel Plants as Affected by Compost/NPK and Biofertilization Treatments

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the two successive seasons of 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 to explore the effect of compost/NPK and biofertilization treatments on essential oil, photosynthetic pigments and herb NPK content of fennel plants. Obtained results revealed that the best three essential oil characteristics (essential oil %, essential oil yield per plant and per feddan), photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls a, b and carotenoids) and herb content of N, P and K values were obtained due to the use of the full dose of mineral NPK, ¼ compost + ¾ NPK dose or ½ compost + ½ NPK dose with no significant differences being detected between such three fertilization treatments. Concerning biofertilization treatments, all of the prementioned essential oil determinations, photosynthetic pigments and herb NPK content traits were considerably augmented due to the dual treatment (Minia Azotein + phosphorein) followed by Minia Azotein, while phosphorein gave the least values. In regard to the interaction gave between the, two involved factors, the highest volatile oil determinations and chemical compositions values were given by fertilizing fennel plants with the full dose of mineral NPK, 25% compost + 75% NPK or 50% compost + 50% NPK in combination with dual biofertilizer treatments (Minia Azotein + phosphorein). It is recommended, to supply fennel plants with 50% compost + 50% NPK in combination with the dual biofertilization treatment (Minia Azotein + phosphorein), from the environmental and economical point of view, in order to maximize the fruit essential oil productivity.

Journal of Water and Land Development

“…The low below and above ground competition between plants for light, water, and nutrients may explain the rise in these features with increased plant spacing between caraway plants. These results are in accordance with those obtained by BADRAN et al [2007] on fennel plants, andBHARGAVA et al [2007] andSIEF et al [2015] on quinoa plants, they reported that plant density is one of the important factors that affect the final yield. Increased planting distances up to 15 cm wide resulted in a drop in grain output.…”

Effect of NPK and Bio-Fertilizers Rates on the Vegetative Growth and Oil Yield of Ocimum basillicum L. Plants

“…Nitrogen promotes vegetative growth, phosphorus is a main constituent of energy compounds, nucleic acids, phospholipids and co-enzymes and potassium increases plant resistance to diseases and prevents excessive water loss (Ezz El-Din and Hendawy, 2010b). These results are in agreement with those reported by Abdou et al (2013) on Nigella sativa plants, Mohsen (2002) on Ocimum basilicum, and Badran et al (2007) on fennel plants.…”

Effect of Compost Fertilization Levels on Growth, Yield and Chemical Composition of Sandy Soil Grown Ammi Visnaga Plants

“…However, among the three compost levels, the highest N, P and K content values were given by the high compost level (17.5 ton/fed), followed by the medium level (12.5 ton/fed), These two compost level treatments increased herb nitrogen and potassium contents by more than 50% and herb phosphorus content by more than 45% in comparison with those of control treatment in both first and second seasons, (Table 5). This role of increasing N, P and K contents by organic fertilization was reported by Fernandez et al (2002) and Badran et al (2017b)…”

“…Many researchers investigated the positive influence of compost and other organic fertilizers in augmenting vegetative growth characters, and yield parameters of different aromatic seed crops such as Younis et al (2004) on Khella; Badran et al (2007), Ahmadian et al (2011), Asl and Moosavi (2012) and Seghatoleslami (2013) on cumin; Tanious (2008), Azzaz et al (2009), Mahmoudi and Asgharipoor (2014) and Badran et al (2017a) on fennel; Hemdan (2008) on anise and Shoor et al (2010) on Nigella sativa. While other authors insured the capability of organic fertilization in promoting various chemical constituents of fennel (Fernandez et al, 2002;Tanious, 2008;Badran et al, 2017a andBadran et al, 2017b); Khella (Younis et al, 2004 andKenawy, 2010); coriander (Abd-Elgawad, 2007); anise (Hemdan, 2008 andAli et al, 2010); Nigella sativa (Mahmoud, 2009) and dill (Hassan et al, 2010).…”