Effect of urea spraying and seaweed extract on growth indicators, yield, and content of medicinally active compounds of anise (Pimpinella anisum L.)

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A protected pot experiment was conducted in the wire shelter of the Department of Plant Production Techniques at Al-Mussaib Technical College, located at coordinates 32º47? N latitude and 44º26? E longitude, to investigate the effects of foliar urea application and seaweed extract application on growth, yield, and quality traits of Pimpinella anisum L. (Anise). The experiment was conducted in plastic pots and arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications, with pots randomly distributed within each replication. Data were statistically analyzed, and differences were tested using the least significant difference (LSD) at the 5% significance level. Results showed that foliar application of urea at 15 g L?¹ produced the highest averages for plant height (42.90 cm), number of branches per plant (7.63), number of leaves per plant (32.75), leaf area per plant (160.83 cm²), number of umbels per plant (26.43), seed yield per plant (5.13 g), seed oil content (5.03%), carbohydrate content (53.27%), protein content (17.15%), fiber content (17.55%), flavonoids (16.15 mg g?¹), and relative limonene abundance (22.73%). Meanwhile, foliar spray of seaweed extract at 6 mL L?¹ resulted in the highest averages for the same traits, reaching 44.28 cm, 8.40 branches per plant, 34.80 leaves per plant, 172.68 cm² leaf area, 29.88 umbels per plant, 5.80 g seed yield, 5.40% oil, 55.53% carbohydrates, 17.98% protein, 19.05% fiber, 17.38 mg g?¹ flavonoids, and 24.10% relative limonene abundance, respectively.