Fennel

Botanical name of fennel is Foeniculum vulgare. It is a stout and aromatic spice crop
which is commercially cultivated as an annual herb. Fennel is known in various names in different
parts of the country. In Hindi, fennel is known as saunf and in Tamil it is known as perungeerakam.
Major production centers of fennel in India are Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya
Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Haryana.

Climatic Requirements
Cool and dry climate is best for the cultivation of fennel crop. Dry and cool weather during the seed
set increases seed yield as well as the quality of the produce.

Soil Requirements
Fennel can be cultivated in all types of soils that are rich in organic matter. Shallow sandy soils are
not suited for fennel cultivation. Best soils for fennel cultivation are black cotton soil and loamy soil
containing lime. Proper drainage is also an important requisite for commercial cultivation of fennel
crop.

Commercial Varieties

RF 101
Tall, erect and with stout stem; long, and bold grains; matures in 150160 days; average yield is 15.5
q/ha.
RF 125
Short plants with compact umbels; long, bold grains; matures in 110130 days; yield is 17.3 q/ha of
seed

RF 35
Tall, spreading plats with medium-sized, hairless and green seeds; tolerant to sugary disease, leafspot and leaf-blight; matures in 225 days; average yield of 12.8 q/ha.

Gujarat Fennel 1
Tall and bushy plants with oblong, medium-bold and dark green seeds; tolerant to sugary disease
and leaf-spot; matures in 225 days; average yield is 16.5 q/ha; suitable for early-sowing; tolerant to
drought.

Co 1
Medium tall plants with diffused branching; matures in 220 days with an average yield of 5.67q/ha;
suitable for drought-prone, waterlogged, saline and alkaline conditions; suitable for hilly areas.

Cultivation Practices
Fennel seeds can be directly sown in the main field or seedlings can be raised in nursery beds and
later transplanted in the main field.

Direct Sowing
Ideal sowing time for fennel is Mid-September to mid-October. Delay in sowing reduces the yield.
Seed rate required for direct sowing is 1012 kg/ha. Sowing should be done deep in rows with
spacing of 4560cm apart. The field is irrigated after sowing.

Transplanting
Seedlings are raised during June or July on well-prepared nursery beds. Afterwards, 78 weeks old
seedlings are transplanted in the field in August.

Fertilization Schedule
At the time of field preparation FYM (farmyard manure) is added @ 1015 tons/ha. Afterwards,
apply 90kg N/ha in three equal splits first as basal dose along with 40kg/ha P2O5, second and third
applications at 30 and 60 days after sowing.

Weed control
Weed infestation is a serious problem in commercial cultivation of fennel crop. First hoeing
and weeding is recommended at 30 days after sowing. Both mechanical and chemical control of
weeds can be practiced. If herbicides are used for weed control, Pendimethalin is most effective.
Pre-emergence application of Pendimethalin @1.0kg/ ha supplemented with one hand-weeding 50
days after sowing controls weeds effectively.

Irrigation
First irrigation is done soon after seed sowing and thereafter one or two light irrigations are required
until seed germination. Afterwards, the crop is irrigated at an interval of 1525 days. Water stress
must be avoided during flowering and seed formation as water stress during this phase may
adversely affect the seed formation and grain yield.

Harvesting
Fennel matures in 170180 days. Harvesting is done by plucking the umbels when seeds are fully
developed and mature but still green. Harvesting duration lasts for a month with plucking being
done twice or thrice at 10 days intervals.

Yield
On an average, fennel yields 910q/ha.

Postharvest Management

Drying of Fennel Seeds

Harvested umbels are dried in sun for 12 days and then in shade for 810 days. Care must be taken
not to sun-dry the umbels too long as long exposure of seeds to the sun reduces the quality of the
produce.

Cleaning and Grading

After drying, fennel seeds are cleaned with the help of vacuum gravity separator or spiral gravity
separator. Cleaned seeds are then graded based on its quality and then packed in jute bags for
marketing.

Storage
Dried and clean seeds are stored in jute bags in damp-free aerated store.

Physiological Disorder
Fennel crop is vulnerable to frost damage which can be minimized by spraying 0.1% solution of
sulphuric acid prior to the incidence of frost.

Uses of Fennel Oil

Essential oil extracted from fennel seeds is used for manufacturing cordials and as a fragrant agent in
toiletries such as soaps and shampoos. Fennel oil is extensively used as a flavoring agent in baking
and confectionary industries.

Health Benefits of Fennel

Fennel is useful in the treatment of anemia. Fennel is one of the best remedies for curing
indigestion. Fennel is also used as an anti flatulent agent.Fennel is extensively used for treating
constipation, diarrhea, renal colic, respiratory disorders, and menstrual disorders. Fennel is also used
for eye care and other medicinal properties of fennel include diuretic properties (increases amount
and frequency of urination) and anti-inflammatory properties (reduces swelling of body parts).

Other Benefits
Fennel water is commonly given to infants as medicine. The root of fennel plants may be used as a
purgative. Fennel seeds are used as stimulant and as a carminative. Fennel is extensively used in
cure of colic pains also. Fennel seeds alone or in combination with sugar are used as a mouth
freshener in India.

CORIANDER CULTIVATION IN INDIA

Botanical name of Coriander is Coriandrum sativum. In India, coriander is

known as 'dhania' in Hindi language. Coriander seeds and leaves are used as common food
flavoring agents. Coriander seeds have medicinal properties too and therefore used as a
carminative, and diuretic. In India, coriander is cultivated in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, UP
and southern states like AP, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.

Climatic Requirements
Being a tropical crop, coriander plants prefer frost-free tropical climate at the time of
flowering and seed formation.

Soil Requirements
Loamy soil is best suited for commercial cultivation of coriander where the crop is raised as
an irrigated crop. Otherwise, coriander can be successfully grown in black soils also where
the crop is raised as a rainfed crop. Coriander is not tolerant to alkaline and saline soils.

Commercial Varieties of Coriander

RCr 41
A tall variety of coriander with small grains; highly resistant to stem gall and wilt;
moderately tolerant to powdery mildew; matures in 130140 days; average yield is 9.2 q/ha.
RCr 20
Medium tall variety of coriander with bushy and spreading growth habit; produces oval,
large-sized grains; moderately tolerant to powdery mildew, wilt as well as stem gall; matures
in 100110 days; average yield is 10q/ha.

RCr 435
An early variety of coriander with medium-sized grains; matures in 110130 days; average
yield is 10.5 q/ha.

RCr 436
Another early-growing variety of coriander with bold grains; matures in 90100 days;
average yield is 11.09 g/ha

RCr 446
Erect-growing leafy variety of coriander with medium-sized grains; matures in 110130
days; average yield is 12 q/ha.

GC 1
Erect-growing variety of coriander with medium-sized, round, yellow colored grains;
moderately tolerant to wilt and powdery mildew; matures in 112 days; average yield is
11q/ha.

GC 2
A medium-tall variety of coriander with semi-spreading growth habit with dense, dark green
foliage and medium-sized grains; moderately tolerant to wilt and powdery mildew; matures
in 110 days; average yield is 14.5 q/ha.

Sindhu
Dwarf variety of coriander with medium-bold, oval, straw-colored grains; tolerant to wilt and
powdery mildew, and resistant to aphids; matures in 102 days; average yield is 10.5 q/ha.

Sadhna
Medium-tall variety of coriander with semi-erect stems and bold, oval, strawcolored grains;
tolerant to white fly and mites; matures in 100 days; average yield is 10.3 q/ha.

Swathi

Semi-erect growing variety of coriander with medium-bold, oval, brownish-yellow grains;

tolerant to whitefly, grain moulds and wilt; yield is 8.89 q/ha

Co 1
Dwarf variety of coriander with globular, smallsized, dusty brown grains; matures in 100
120 days with an average yield of 4.0 q/ha

Co 2
Erect-growing variety of coriander with oblong, medium-sized dull yellowish-brown grains;
matures in 90110 days with an average grain yield of 5.2 q/ha and green yield of 100 q/ha

Co 3
Dwarf variety of coriander with medium-bold, oblong, brownish-yellow grains; tolerant to
wilt, powdery mildew and grain mould; matures in 86104 days with an average yield of 6.5
q/ha

CS 287
Early-maturing variety of coriander with medium-sized, oblong, straw grains; tolerant to wilt
and grain mould; matures in 7897 days with an average yield of 6.0 q/ha

RD 44 (Rajendra Swathi)
A medium variety of coriander with fine, round, aromatic grains; resistant to stem gall and
moderately resistant to wilt, aphids and weevil; matures in 100 days with an average yield of
13 q/ha.

DH 5
Medium-tall variety of coriander with bushy growth and round attractive grains of mediumsize; matures in 120130 days with an average yield of 1820 q/ha under good management

Cultivation Practices

Propagation
Seed propagation is commercially practiced. Seeds are directly sown in the main field.

Sowing
Ideal time for sowing coriander seeds is October November. A seed rate of 1215 kg/ha is
sufficient under irrigated conditions, whereas 2530 kg/ha is required for rainfed conditions.

Spacing

Sowing should be done 30cm apart in lines with a plant-to-plant distance of 10cm, whereas in
heavy soils or fertile soils 40cm spacing between rows is recommended.

Fertilizer Schedule
Add farmyard manure @ 1020 tons/ha during land preparation. Afterwards, apply 20kg N,
30kg P and 20kg k/ha at the time of sowing. An additional dose of 40kg N/ha should be
applied in 2 equal splits 30 days and 75 day after sowing for irrigated crops.

Weed control
First weeding is done 30 days after sowing and second weeding in irrigated coriander may be
done between 50 and 60 days of sowing depending upon the weed growth. Herbicides may
also be applied for weed control. Pre-plant Fluchloralin @ 0.75kg/ha, pre-emergent
Oxyfluorfen @ 0.15kg/ha or Pendamithalin @ 1.0kg/ha are effective herbicides.

Irrigation
Irrigation requirement is depending upon the parameters such as climate, soil moisture level,
and the variety used. Standard irrigation schedule is 45 irrigations 3035, 6070, 8090,
100105 and 110150 days after sowing.

Harvesting
Coriander seeds should be harvested when 50% seeds turn yellow. Coriander leaves should
be harvested 75 days after sowing. Only 50 % of leaves are harvested. An average yield of
100 Q/ha coriander leaves is obtained per harvest.

Postharvest Management

Drying of Coriander Seeds

Fresh coriander seeds should be dried in shade to retain seed color and quality. After drying,
seeds are separated by light beating with sticks and winnowing. An average yield of 1225
q/ha under irrigated condition and 78 q/ha under rainfed condition can be easily obtained.

Packaging and Storage

Clean gunny bags are used for packing coriander seeds which are stored in damp-free aerated
store rooms.

Physiological disorders
Coriander is susceptible to frost damage.

Abstract
A field experiment was conducted at National Research Centre on Seed Spices, Ajmer
(Rajasthan), during the rabi 2005-07 to study the integrated weed management in coriander
(Coriandrum sativum L.). The results revealed that pre-emergence application of oxadiargyl
@75 g/ha+1 hand weeding at 45 days after sowing resulted into significantly maximum
vegetative growth and seed yield (1 340 kg/ha) of coriander, followed by pre-emergence
application of pendimethalin @ 1 kg/ha+1 hand weeding at 45 days after sowing. Among the
weed management practices, weed-free treatment was most effective in reducing the dry
weight of weeds and recorded the highest weed control efficiency (85.94%), followed by preemergence application of oxadiargyl @75 g/ha+1 hand weeding at 45 days after sowing
(78.31%). However, the maximum net returns (Rs 46 561/ha) and highest benefit: cost ratio
(3.22:1) were obtained under pre-emergence application of oxadiargyl @ 75 g/ha+1 hand
weeding at 45 days after sowing among all the treatments including weed-free treatments
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during the winter seasons of 2000/01 to 2003/04, in
Junagadh, Gujarat, India, to evaluate the efficacy of an integrated approach in controlling the
weeds of coriander (Coriandrum sativum cv. Gujarat Coriander-1). The treatments consisted
of pre-plant incorporation of fluchloralin and post-sowing application of trifluralin,
pendimethalin and oxyfluorfen, with or without hand weeding (HW) at 30 days after sowing.
HW once at 15 DAS or twice at 15 and 30 DAS as well as weed-free and unweeded controls
were also maintained. Data were recorded for the density and dry weight of weeds as well as
plant height, number of branches, number of umbels, seed yield, stover yield and net returns
of coriander. The major weeds in the experimental field were Cyperus rotundus (33%),
Digera arvensis (32%), Aeluropus villosus (19%) and Dactyloctenium aegyptium (4%).
Integration of all herbicides with HW at 30 DAS was effective in reducing total weed density
and dry weight, especially D. arvensis and A. villosus. Integration of fluchloralin at 600 g/ha
and oxyfluorfen at 80 g/ha with HW produced seed yields at par with the weed-free control
and the highest net returns.
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted in Gujarat, India, during 2001/02 and 2002/03 to evaluate the
influence of weed management practices and nitrogen fertilizer on yield of coriander. Treatments
comprised combinations of 3 levels of nitrogen (20, 40 and 60 kg/ha) and 6 weed management
practices (control, one-hand weeding at 20 DAS + one interculturing at 40 DAS, 2 hand weedings at
20 DAS and oxadiazon at 0.5/ha, pendimethalin at 0.75 and oxyfluorfen at 0.15 kg/ha) as preemergence. The weed density at 20 and 60 days after sowing was significantly affected by fertilizer
rate, with greater weed density at the lower application rates.. However, weed dry weight at harvest
was not influenced by levels of N. Significantly, the higher seed yield and yield attributes were
recorded under the application of 60 kg N/ha. Pre-emergence application of oxadiazon at 0.5 kg/ha
was most effective in controlling weeds, which enhanced growth and yield components and resulted
in production of higher coriander seed yield (2599 kg/ha) and net monetary return of Rs. 42354.
This treatment was at par with pendimethalin. The interaction effect of N and weed management
treatments were not significant.
Abstract

Pre-emergence application (19 October 1992) of 1.5 kg pendimethalin, 1.0 or 0.75 kg linuron, or 1.0
kg prometryne [prometryn]/ha, and post-emergence application (9 November 1992) of 0.5/0.3 kg
paraquat/diquat per ha were evaluated for control of weeds in a coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
oilseed crop on Wingatui silt loam (pH 5.3) during 1992-93. Seed beds were prepared on 9 October
1992 by either rotary hoeing to a level or raised seed bed, discing followed by tyne harrowing, or
grubbing followed by rotary crumbling and power harrowing. Pendimethalin had the least effect on
coriander populations and vigour, and gave effective weed control. In the absence of herbicide,
rotary hoeing gave best control of field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), and grubbing and power
harrowing were more effective on fat hen (Chenopodium album), red dead nettle (Lamium
purpureum) and shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris). Herbicide treatment negated these
effects

SPICE CROPS
FENNEL (SAUNF)
PF-35: This variety was developed by Gujarat Agricultural University. It is moderately spreading,
comparatively tall and big um-belled variety. Its seed size is medium and colour is green. The seed is
hairless having fine ridges.
Gujarat Fennel-1: This variety was also released by Gujarat Agricultural University in 1985. It has a
spreading and bushy habit of growth. Umbels are bigger in size and seeds are green in colour. It
yields about 20q/ha.
Cultural Operations
Seed Rate: Fennel crop can be grown either direct sown or transplanted. In direct sown crop 10-15
kg seed/ha is required while in case of transplanted 4-6 kg/ha is sufficient for raising seedlings.
Sowing Time: The optimum time of direct seeding is first fort-night of October. In case of
transplanted crop, nursery should be raised in September.
Spacing: 30-40 cm between rows and 20 cm between plants.
Manuring: About 20 Tons FYM, 50 kg N and 25 kg P2O5 per hectare. The half of nitrogen and all
P2O5 is to be applied before sowing and rest of N as top dressing at the time of flowering.
Chemical Weed Control: Weedicide pendimethalin @1.0 kg/ha (Stomp 30% 3.3 litres) as preemergence within 8 days of sowing in 600-700 litres of water. It should be supplemented with one
hand weeding at 60 days after sowing. Proper soil moisture at the time of application of herbicide is
essential.
Yield: 15-20q/ha.
CORIANDER (DHANIA)
Recommended Varieties

Narnaul Selection: This variety was developed by HAU, Hisar. The plant of this variety has more
number of branches. The seeds are bolder in size as compared to the local type and greenish brown
in colour. Two cuttings can be taken without reduction in yield. It yields about 15-20 q/ha.
Pant Haritima: This variety has been developed by Pant Nagar. The plant has more vegetative
growth. The seeds are small in size and greenish brown in colour. Two cuttings can be taken without
reduction in yield. It yields about 15-20 q seed/ha.
Cultural Operations
Seed Rate: 8-10 kg per hectare (for Spice Crop)
10-15 kg per hectare (for Green Leaves)
Sowing Time: October to December for green leaves and first fortnight of November for seed crop.
Seed halves should be sown rather than whole seed.
Spacing: Row to row 20-30 cm and plant to plant 20 cm.
Manuring: About 20 tons FYM, 60kg N and 25 kg P2O5 per hectare. The half of nitrogen and
phosphorous is to be applied before sowing and rest of N as top dressing after 6-8 weeks of seeding.
Weed Control: Any one of the following recommendations can be used for chemical weed control in
Coriander.
-3 litres per hectare as pre sowing.
-5 litres per hectare.
-1.5 1+ stomp 2.0-2.5 litres per hectare.
tomp 2.0-2.5 1+ tribunal 0.7- 1.0 kg per hectare.

Note:
I. Basalin should be used as pre- sowing incorporated in the soil while other weedicides are to be
used as pre-emergence.
II. Proper soil moisture at the time of application of weedicide is essential.