Yield, economics and water use of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) as influenced by irrigation and weed management practices

Field experiment was conducted during rabi seasons of 2006-07 and 2007-08 at Sardarkrushinagar to study the effect of irrigation scheduling and weed control on fenugreek. Irrigation at 1.0 IW/CPE ratio producing higher yield attributes, viz. length of pod or pods/plant, seeds/pod, 1,000-seed weight resulted in significantly higher seed yield (1.47 t/ha), net returns (Rs 25,487/ha) and consumptive use of water over 0.6 and 0.8 ratios. However, water use efficiency and water expense efficiency were higher with 0.8 IW/CPE ratio. Weed population as well as dry weight increased with increasing levels of IW/ CPE ratio from 0.6 to 1.0. Application of pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg/ ha with inter-culture at 40 days after sowing (DAS) and hand-weeding at 20 and 40 DAS were found as effective as weed free treatment in respect of yield, net returns and water use efficiency parameters. Thus, application of ir- rigation at 1.0 IW/CPE ratio along with weed control by pre-emergence application of pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg/ha + inter-culture at 40 DAS is better for getting higher yield and net return from fenugreek.