Zoleikha Sharifi; ahmad zare; Elham Elahifard; alireza abdali
Abstract
Objective: In order to evaluate different levels of wheat straw mulch and herbicide on quantitative, qualitative yield and weeds control of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare MIL.) an experiment was conducted arranged as split-plot based on a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 3 replications at Agricultural ...
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Objective: In order to evaluate different levels of wheat straw mulch and herbicide on quantitative, qualitative yield and weeds control of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare MIL.) an experiment was conducted arranged as split-plot based on a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 3 replications at Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan during 2019-2020 growing season.
Methods: Treatments included different concentrations of linuron herbicide (0, 1.5, 3, 4.5 L/ha) as the main plot and different levels of wheat straw mulch (0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 tons /ha) as the subplot.
Results: The results revealed that the lowest dry weight of broadleaf and grass weeds (73 and 15 g/ m2) of 4.5 L/ha herbicide and 9 and 12 tons’/ha mulch was obtained. The highest grain yield was observed (80 g/m2) in 3L/ha of herbicide application and wheat straw mulch 9 ton/ha, and the lowest (18 g/m2) in treatment non-application of mulch and herbicide. The highest essential oil yield of fennel (2.82 g/m2) was obtained in treatment herbicide application (3 L/ha) and straw mulch (9 ton/ha), while in treatment non-application of mulch and herbicide was 0.48 g/m2.
Conclusion: Therefore, in integrated weed management, the use of wheat straw mulch could be considered for reducing weeds competition and achieving sustainable agriculture in medicinal plants.