Influence of phosphorus and zinc fertilization on growth and yield of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) in the semi-arid region of Rajasthan

An experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2015–16 and 2016–17 at Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Durgapura, Rajasthan, to study the effect of phosphorus and zinc fertilization on the growth and productivity of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.). Four levels of phosphorus (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg P₂O₅/ha) and 6 levels of zinc and zinc solubilizer [0, 2.5 and 5.0 kg Zn/ha, zinc solubilizer (Bacillus endophyticus), 2.5 kg Zn/ha + zinc solubilizer and 5 kg Zn/ha + zinc solubilizer were tested in split-plot design with 3 replications. Application of 40 kg P₂O₅/ha and 5 kg Zn/ha + zinc solubilizer resulted in significant increase in plant height, dry-matter accumulation, effective root nodules, leaf-area index, different yield attributes and yield of fenugreek. Application of 60 kg P₂O₅/ha increased the seed yield of fenugreek by 33% during 2015–16 and 40% during 2016–17 over the control. Zinc fertilization @ 5 kg Zn/ha + zinc solubilizer increased seed yield of fenugreek by 24% during 2015–16, while the increase was 27% during 2016–17 over the control.