Field evaluation of algae-derived inputs for sustainable crop production in the medicinal plant fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Subject Areas : Medicinal Plants

Afsaneh Yousefpour Dokhanieh ^{1 *} , elnaz farajzadeh memari ²

1 -
2 - دانشگاه ازاد ملکان

Received: 2025-06-11 Accepted : 2025-09-26 Published : 2025-11-09

Keywords: fennel (Foeniculum vulgare ) , algae, environmental conditions, essential oil performance,

Abstract :

This experiment was conducted based on a randomized complete block design with three replications in the field of Islamic Azad University, Malekan Branch. The treatments included the application of polysaccharides, humic acid, amino acids, and nutritional compounds and vitamins derived from brown algae (Ecklonia maxima). The results showed that the use of humic acids and polysaccharides significantly increased the yield and quality of fennel. Humic acids had a positive and significant effect on chlorophyll content and increased it. The use of polysaccharides led to an increase in the weight of one thousand seeds and essential oil of fennel. Amino acids, nutritional compounds, and vitamins also had different effects on plant yield. Amino acids significantly increased the number of seeds, and nutritional compounds and vitamins also affected the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the plant product, especially the percentage of essential oil. It was observed that the effect of each of these treatments was different at different stages of plant growth. In the first year, the use of humic acid alone and in combination with the nutrient mixture led to improved fennel essential oil yield, but in the second year, only the use of the nutrient mixture and humic acid significantly increased the essential oil yield. The results show that environmental conditions and the compounds used can have different effects on yield and product quality. The use of the nutrient mixture and humic acid may be used as an effective method to increase fennel essential oil yield in some environmental conditions. These results show that different compounds and environmental conditions can have different effects on yield and product quality.

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