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Conventional and Rock-Based Potassium Fertilization Improves Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) Performance Under
Ghada F H El-Sheref1, Nevien Elhawat2,3,4, A G M Kenawy5
1Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute (SWERI), Agricultural Research Center, Giza 12619, Egypt.
Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 27, 2026
Summary
Optimizing irrigation and potassium fertilization sustainably boosts fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) essential oil yield in arid regions. Adequate potassium, especially potassium sulfate, enhances growth and yield even with reduced watering.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Agronomy
- Plant Physiology
Background:
- Water scarcity and high fertilizer costs impede sustainable medicinal plant cultivation in arid zones.
- Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a vital aromatic crop facing cultivation challenges in water-limited environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interactive effects of irrigation intervals and potassium sources/rates on fennel growth, yield, and essential oil productivity.
- To determine optimal management strategies for fennel cultivation under water-limited conditions in Middle Egypt.
Main Methods:
- Field experiments conducted over two seasons evaluating three irrigation intervals (21, 28, 35 days) and two potassium sources (potassium sulfate, feldspar) at varying rates.
- Measurements included plant growth, yield components, seed yield, essential oil yield, and soil/plant nutrient status.
Main Results:
- Frequent irrigation (21 days) maximized vegetative growth and essential oil yield (up to 69.7 L ha⁻¹).
- Potassium sulfate at 120 kg K₂O ha⁻¹ consistently improved all growth and yield parameters.
- Moderate irrigation extension (28 days) reduced water use by ~23% with acceptable yields when combined with sufficient potassium.
- Potassium application improved nutrient uptake and mitigated water stress effects.
Conclusions:
- Integrating moderately extended irrigation with adequate potassium supply, particularly soluble potassium sulfate, is a viable strategy for sustainable fennel production.
- Optimal potassium nutrition enhances water-use efficiency and reproductive performance, crucial for arid region agriculture.
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