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 irrigation 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.