FENNEL

Mainly in the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat, fennel is cultivated as a one-year Rabi crop of northern India. Fennel also known as Saunf in Hindi is belonging to Apiaceae family. This annual herb is native of Europe. Its seeds after drying are mostly used for spice purpose. Fennel is good source of fibre, vitamin C, potassium. It is used for flavoring meat dishes, soups etc.Its leaves are used for garnishing dishes also in salads. Fennel is also having medicinal properties like it is used for digestion, also to treat constipation, diarrhea, throat pain, headache etc. It is cultivated as Rabi crop. India is top producer of fennel and Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Haryana are major fennel growing states.

All soils rich in organic matter are suitable for fennel cultivation. It gives best result when grown on well drained sandy loam to loamy soils and black soil. Avoid shallow soils for fennel cultivation. pH of soil should be in range of 6.5 to 8.

Pallavi Fennel-35 (PF-35): It is medium spreading variety having long size and bears large bunch of seeds. The seed is medium in size and is green in color. It gives an average yield of 6-8qtl/acre.

Gujarat Fennel-1 (GF-1): It has spreading growth and grows as a shrub. Bunches are big in size and seeds are green in color. It gives an average yield of 7-8qtl/acre.

Hissar Fennel-33 (HF-33): It is medium spreading variety and is tall in height. Bunches are big in size and is green in color. It gives an average yield of 8qtl/acre.

Hissar Fennel-143 (HF-143): It is spreading variety and is tall in height. It contains medium sized seeds and contains 2.4% oil content. It gives an average yield of 8-9qtl/acre.

Other state varieties:

Ajmer Fennel 2 (AF 2): Released by NRCSS, Ajmer. The variety is suitable for sowing both in early season and as a Rabi crop. Plant height is tall. The seed contains 1.9% of essential oil content. For Rabi crop, it gives an average yield of 7.5kg/acre. The variety is tolerant to Ramularia blight.

RF 101: The variety gets mature in 15-160 days and gives an average yield of 5.85 kg/acre.

RF 125: The variety is sown in the month of October to November and harvesting is done in the month of March.The variety gets mature in 110-130 days. Gives average yield of 6.6qtl/acre.

RF 143: The variety is released by Rajasthan Agricultural University, Jobner. The plant is medium tall in height and is recommended to grow in black and loamy soil. It gives 500 kg seed per acre. The seed contains 1.87% of essential oil.

RF 145: The variety is sown in the month of October to November and harvesting is done in the month of March. Gives average yield of 6qtl/acre.

RF 178: The variety is sown in the month of October to November and harvesting is done in the month of March. Gives average yield of 5.5qtl/acre.

RF 205: The variety is sown in the month of October to November and harvesting is done in the month of March. Gives average yield of 5.75qtl/acre.

RF 281: Released in 2012 by SKN college of Agriculture, Jobner. Gives an average yield of 7.5-8 qtl/acre of seeds.

PG 35: Released by Gujarat Agricultural University.It has medium sized hairless seeds which are green in color. The plant height is tall. Moderately resistant to leaf spot, leaf blight and sugar diseases. The seed contains 1.9% of essential oil. The variety gets mature in 215-225 days and gives an average yield of 5.35qtl/acre.

GF 2: Gives an average yield of 5.5qtl/acre.

CO 1: Medium tall variety, ready to harvest in 220 days. Can be cultivated in saline, water logged areas. Gives average yield of 3qtl/acre.

Hisar Swarup: Released by Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. It is a late maturing variety which gets mature in 175-185 days. The seed contain 1.6% of oil content. Gives an average yield of 6.60 qtl/acre of seeds.

Azad saunf 1: Resistant to root rot and blight.

Pant Madhurika

RF 35: Tall variety, ready to harvest in 225 days. Resistant to leaf spot and sugary disease. Gives average yield of 5.2qtl/acre.

RF 201: Gives average yield of 5.5qtl/acre.
 

To prepared fine seed bed, give two to three ploughings in medium soil. For heavy soils, take ploughing for three to four times. Carry out planking after each ploughing to obtained uniform bed.

Time of sowing:
For direct sowing, second and third week of October is appropriate and for transplanting, seedling is prepared in September month. 

Spacing:
For row spacing use distance of 30-40cm and for plant spacing, use distance of 20cm.

Sowing Depth:
Sow seeds at depth of 3-4 cm.

Method of sowing:
Fennel can be directly sown where as in some areas it first raised in nursery then transplanted to main field.
 

Seed Rate:
For direct sowing, use seed rate of 4-6kg per acre and for transplantation purpose, use seed rate of 2-3kg per acre.
 
Seed treatment:
Use Bavistin @2 gm/kg of seed and then do the sowing.

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Apply well decomposed cowdung@8qtl/acre in soil at time of land preparation. Application of fertilizer dose i.e. Nitrogen @20kg/acre and Phosphorus@10kg/acre is done. Half dose of Nitrogen and full dose of Phosphorus is applied at the time of sowing. Rest of the half dose is applied at the time of flower development. 

For better germination of seeds, apply pre-sowing irrigation. First irrigation is given 7-8 days after sowing. Depending upon soil type and climate, apply remaining irrigation at interval of 20-25 days. Avoid water stress at flowering and seed formation stage.
 

Depending upon weed intensity, carry out, one or two hoeing operation. To control weed chemical, apply Pendimethalin@1ltr/acre. First weeding is done after 30 days of sowing, second and third is done when necessary.

• Pest and their control:
  

Aphid: If infestation of Aphid is observed, to controlled take spray of Dimethoate 30EC@2ml per litter of water or Methyl demeton 25EC@2ml per liter of water.

• Disease and their control:
  

Powdery Mildew: If infestation is observed, take spray of wettable Sulphur@2gm/ltr of water.

Depending upon variety used, crop is ready to harvest in 180 days, i.e. end of April or end of May. It gives an average yield of 6-8qtl/acre. Start harvesting when umbels change its color from green to light yellow. Harvesting is done by plucking umbels. After then umbels are dried in sun for 1-2 days and about 8-10 days in shades.