Zahra Rezaei; Mohammad Rafieolhosseini; Abdolrahman Mohammadkhani
Abstract
In order to evaluate the effect of manure and super absorbent polymer on some morphological characteristics and fennel (Foeniculum vulgar Mill) essential oil production under drought stress conditions, an experiment was conducted as spilt-plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications ...
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In order to evaluate the effect of manure and super absorbent polymer on some morphological characteristics and fennel (Foeniculum vulgar Mill) essential oil production under drought stress conditions, an experiment was conducted as spilt-plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications at University of Shahrekord in 2015. The main factor was different levels of drought stress including three levels of control (50 mm), moderate stress (100 mm) and severe stress (150 mm) evaporation from class. A pan and sub-factor was considered different ratios of animal manure and super absorbent polymer in six levels (D1: lack of manure and super absorbent polymer, D2: 25% manure + 75% super absorbent polymer, D3: 50% manure + 50% super absorbent polymer, D4: 75% manure + 25% super absorbent polymer, D5: 100% manure (40 t.ha-1) and D6: 100% super absorbent polymer (200 Kg.ha1)). The results showed that the maximum number of umbel, grain yield (146.66 g/m2), harvest index and essential oil yield (2.99 g/m2) from control treatment and D6, the maximum number of lateral branch, floret and plant dry weight (165.62 g/m2) from control treatment and D4 and the maximum thousand seed weight and plant fresh weight, from control treatment and D3 and D2 were obtained, respectively. The maximum essential oil percentage (3.09) was obtained from severe stress and D5 treatment. The maximum plant height and number of main branch was obtained from D6 and D4 treatments, respectively and under control conditions. Since the superabsorbent polymer while reducing the effects of drought, increased grain yield, harvest index and oil yield of fennel, thus, control treatment with 100% super absorbent polymer consumption can be offered to maximize grain and essential oil yield under the same conditions.