Effect of Irrigation Treatments on Yield and Yield Components of Three Fennel (Foenicolum vulgare L.) Landraces

Increasing the use of medicinal plants and limitation of water resources for production of these plants reveal the necessity of identification of the adapted genotypes to stress condition. Thus, two field experiments were conducted during 2009 - 2011 at the Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Iran, to evaluate response of Fennel Landraces to irrigation treatments. Experiments were arranged as split plot based on randomized complete block design in three replications with irrigation treatments (Irrigation after 60 mm, 90 mm, 120 mm and 150 mm evaporation from class A pan) in main plots and Landraces (Hamdan, Ezmir and Gaziantep) in subplots. Irrigation treatments had significant effects on all traits. Increasing irrigation intervals from 60 to 150 mm evaporation resulted in decreasing plant height, umbels per plant, seeds per umbel, seeds per umbelet, 1000-seed weight, plant biomass and grain yield. But umbelets per umbel was increased. Grain yield of Ezmir landrace was higher than that of Gaziantep and Hamdan landraces. It seems that due to the limited sources of water in the region, irrigation after 90 mm evaporation and Ezmir landrace are suitable for fennel grain production.