CRITICAL PERIOD OF WEED-CROP COMPETITION IN FENNEL (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi season2005-06 to find the critical period of weed-crop competitionin fennel crop. There were seven treatments in theexperiment including zero competition, weed-cropcompetition for 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 days after emergence anda weedy check. The data were recorded on weed density,weed dry weight and yield parameters of the crop. Totalweed density and weed dry weight showed an increasingtrend as the competition period increased. Seed yield alsoshowed linear decrease with increasing duration of theweed-fennel competition. Statistically maximum seed yieldwas obtained where there was no weed-crop competitionfollowed by weed-crop competition for 40 50 DAE whichwere statistically at par with each other. Minimum seed yieldwas recorded in plots where weeds were allowed to growthroughout the season. As conclusion, weeds control infennel crop should be done before 50 days of emergence asit was the critical period of competition found in theexperiment.