Potential of Biochar and Silicon on Productivity and Profitability of Organic Fenugreek (Trigonella frenum-graecum L. )in Southern Rajasthan

The aim of the present study accessed the effects of the integrated use of organic inputs such as silicon and biochar on the growth, yield and profitability of fenugreek. The field experiment was conducted in rabi, 2020-21 at MPUAT, Udaipur (Rajasthan). The treatments consisted of four levels of soil-applied biochar (control, 2, 3 and 4 t/ha) and four foliar-applied silicon sprays at 45 and 90DAS (water spray, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 %). Significantly maximum plant height (53.30 and 90.14 cm), dry matter accumulation (5.00 and 20.43 g) at 60 DAS and harvest, respectively, total chlorophyll content with SPAD meter at flower initiation (56.55), and seed yield (1944 kg/ha) were recorded with the application of 4 t /ha biochar at par with 3 and 2 t/ha. Moreover, the maximum plant height (49.43 and 90.23 cm), dry matter accumulation (4.65 and 20.18 g/plant) at 60 DAS and harvest, and seed yield (1919 kg/ha) were with 2.5% foliar application of silicon. Maximum seed yield (2155 kg/ha), net return (150490/ha), and BC ratio (2.66) were obtained with the treatment's combination of 2 t/ha soil applied biochar and 2.5% foliar applied silicon.