Effect of inorganic and organic sources of fertilization on productivity of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) under agro- climatic conditions of Southern Rajasthan

A field experiment was laid out to study the effects of inorganic and organic sources of fertilization on growth, yield attributing characters and yield of fenugreek during rabi, 2017-18 at Instructional Farm of Agronomy, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur (Raj.). The results revealed the superiority of 100% RDF brought significant improvements in various growth parameters viz., plant height, number of branches plant-1, dry matter accumulation, CGR and RGR of fenugreek at successive growth stages of crop as well as at harvest. Number and weight of nodules plant-1 were statistically higher under 75% RDF. These enhancements manifested in improvement in yield attributing characters viz. number of pods plant-1, pod length, seeds pod-1, seed weight plant-1 and test weight, consequently increased seed (2218.7 kg ha-1) and haulm yield (8932.5 kg ha-1). The application of FYM 5 t ha-1 + Rhizobium + PSB significantly improved plant height (92.2 and 94.0 cm) and dry matter accumulation (14.27 and 25.16 g plant-1) at 90 DAS and at harvest, respectively. Significant improvement in number of nodules (11.9 and 30.2) and nodule weight plant-1 (33.2 and 50.5 mg) was recorded under vermicompost 2.5 t ha-1 + Rhizobium + PSB at 45 and 60 DAS, respectively. Yield attributes viz., number of pods plant-1 (26.8) and pod length (10.7 cm) was significantly higher under FYM 5 t ha-1 + Rhizobium + PSB. Seed weight plant-1 (13.0 g) and seed yield (2141.9 kg ha-1) significantly increased with application of vermicompost 2.5 t ha-1 + Rhizobium + PSB. Significant improvement was recorded in number and weight of nodules plant-1 with combined application of 75% RDF + vermicompost 2.5 t ha-1 + Rhizobium + PSB at 45 and 60 DAS. Treatment combination 100% RDF + vermicompost 2.5 t ha-1 + Rhizobium + PSB recorded significantly higher grain yield (2540.7 kg ha-1), which was at par with 100% RDF + FYM 5 t ha-1 + Rhizobium + PSB (2285 kg ha-1). Among different treatment combinations the highest net return (` 70,781.15 ha-1) was recorded under 100% RDF + vermicompost 2.5 t ha-1 + Rhizobium + PSB and highest BC ratio (1.96) was recorded under Rhizobium + PSB.