Quantitative and qualitative yield of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) affected by application of wheat straw mulch and herbicide

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. 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 a subplot. 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. Therefore, in integrated weed management, the use of wheat straw mulch could be considered in reduction of weeds competition and achieving sustainable agriculture in medicinal plants.