Investigation of the effect of different sowing times on some agricultural and chemical properties of sweet fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill. dulce) genotypes

This study was carried out in Kayseri (Bünyan) ecological conditions in 2020 to determine the effect of different sowing times on yield and some quality characteristics in three different sweet fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill var. dulce) populations. Fennel populations obtained from the provinces of Tokat, Konya, and Isparta were used as material in the study, which was carried out in three replications according to the split plots experimental design in random blocks. Sowing was done on 15 April and 15 May. According to the results obtained from this study, the plant height is 80-110 cm, the number of branches is 6.47-10.67 pieces/plant, the number of umbrellas is 17.53-32.27 pieces/plant, the fruit yield per plant is 14.87-25.33 g, the fruit yield is 86.80-152.04 kg/da, 1000 fruit weight was 7.22-9.58 g, the essential oil content was between 1.87-2.87% and essential oil yield varied between 1.96-3.94 L/da. Among the yield and yield characteristics examined, higher values were obtained than the 15 May sowing in all other properties except the essential oil content. Only statistical differences were recorded between the populations in terms of essential oil content and essential oil yield. However, it was determined that the Isparta population showed better development. It has been observed that the date of May 15 is more suitable for planting fennel in the ecology where the research is carried out and in similar ecologies.