Agricultural Expert Service Institute “Tamiš“ , Pančevo , Serbia
Institute for Medicinal Plants Research “Dr Josif Pančić“ , Belgrade , Serbia
Agricultural Expert Service Institute “Tamiš“ , Belgrade , Serbia
Institute for Vegetable Crops , Smederevska Palanka , Serbia
The aim of this study was to show the results of the perennial fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mil) production in an isolation zone of organic production. Since this plant species is being used in the pharmaceutical and food industry, its production in an organic farming system has special significance. Isolation zone was founded on an organic demo field soil type carbonate chernozem of the Institute “Tamis”. During the period 2009 - 2014, phenological observations, observations of the presence of useful entomofauna and the measurements of the fruit and essential oil yields have been performed. The rapid plant growth and the early closure of an interrow space, in the third week of April, are very useful in organic cropping system because luxuriant biomass above ground prevents the growth of weeds in the plantation. Preliminary results point to greater presence of pollinators, predators and parasitoids of harmful insects, which have special significance in organic production system, in more efficient fertilization and encouragement of biocontrol processes. The age of planted fennel and climatic factors influence the yield variations per year. The average fruit yield during the study was 1.40 t ha-1 and oil yield was 73.2 kg ha-1. The lowest fruit and oil yield was in the founding year. In the years that followed, the yields have increased, so that the highest yields were reached in the fourth year, 2.10 t ha-1 of fruit and 147.00 kg ha-1 of oil.
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