Effect of biofertilizers application on quantitative and qualitative yield of fennel (foeniculum vulgare) in a sustainable production system

In order to study the effect of biofertilizers application on quantitative and qualitative yield of fennel seed yield and essential oil yield in a sustainable production system, an experiment was conducted at Hamand Research station at Damavand during 2005 and 2006 growing seasons. The factors were mycorrhizal inoculation (inoculated and non-inoculated), phosphatic biofertilizer (0, 30 , 60 kg/ha) and vermicompost (0 , 5 , 10 ton/ha). The experiment design was a factorial base on randomized complete block design with eighteen treatments and three replications. Results showed that the highest seed yield and essential oil yield were obtained with mycorrhization. The maximum seed yield was obtained with application of 30 kg/ha and essential oil yield with consumption of 60 kg/ha phosphatic biofertilizer. Vermicompost also showed significant effects on mentioned traits, as the highest seed yield and essential oil yield were related to the plots with consumption of 10 ton/ha vermicompost. Effectivity of mycorrhiza application on seed yield and essential oil yield in second year was 9.7% and 14.3% higher than first year respectively. These amounts for vermicompost (10 ton/ha) orderly 47% and 48.7% were obtained. Also, phosphatic biofertilizer (60 kg/ha) influence on essential oil yield in second year were up to 9% higher than first year.