ISHS Acta Horticulturae 362: International Symposium on Agrotechnics and Storage of Vegetable and Ornamental Seeds
FIRST RESULTS OF PLANT DENSITY AND NITROGEN RATE ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF FLORENCE FENNEL (FOENICULUM VULGARE MILL. VAR. AZORICUM THELL.) "SEEDS". |
| Authors: | G. Damato, V.A. Bianco, M. Laterza |
| Keywords: | Florence fennel, N rate, plant density, seed quality, seed size |
| Abstract:
Investigations were conducted for two years, in South Italy, to ascertain the effects of tree plant density (5.0, 5.5 and 1.7 plant m-2) and tree nitrogen levels (0, 150 and 300 kg ha-1 of N) using the method root to seed. In the first year were made 2 harvests and the seed quality was evaluated 6 and 12 months after the harvest, in the second year were made three picking and the seed was estimated 12 months after harvest only. The latter year cleaned seeds were graded using a round-hole sieve with a 2 mm diameter in two classes: seeds < 2 mm (small seeds) and seed > 2 mm (large seeds). The N rate did not affect the characteristics examined in the second year, while in the first the 1000 seed weight of the second harvest was higher with 150 kg ha-1 of N (KNH). In the first year the average total yield of cleaned seed was about twice than the second, but total yield was not influenced by plant density in both years. The yield per plant was lowest with 5 plant m-2 (PSM). No differences were observed in the second year for the yield of large and small seeds and for percentage of large seeds by weight compared to total yield. In the first year plant density did not affect characteristics of seed germination. Seeds from plants whit 0 KNH reached 95% of the final germination lightly early. One year after the harvest, the germinability was lower by 19% and T25, T50, T75, and T95 were higher. There were a significant seed-maturation dates effects on the characteristics of the germination; late-matured seeds were less germinating and had a longer time to reach predetermined germination percentage. In the second year, in general, with smaller and late harvested seed and with seed coming from plant grown at highest density, the germination percentage, the speed of germination and germination value were higher. The highest N rate increased slightly the speed of germination and germination value. | |
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