Effect of crop geometry, fertilizer levels and genotypes on growth and yield of fenugreek (Trigonellafoenum-graecum L.)

A field experiment was conducted during rabi season of2012-13 which consisted of two spacing viz., 30 cm x10 cm (S1), 22 cm x 10 cm (S₂) and two fertilizer levels viz., F_r 40: 40: 20 kg NPK per ha, F₂-50: 50: 25 kg NPK per ha and three genotypes viz., Ajmer Fenugreek-1 (V1), Ajmer Fenugreek-3 (V₂) and Ajmer Fenugreek-4 (V₃). The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications. Result revealed that significantly higher seed yield (2437.4 kg ha⁻¹), straw yield (3356.8 kg ha⁻¹), biological yield (5794.2 ha⁻¹), net return (Rs.57358 ha⁻¹) and BCR (2.5) were recorded with sowing at a spacing of 22 cm x 10 cm as compared to 30 cm x 10 cm spacing but numbers of pods per plant (37.0), seed yield per plant (43.5 g), test weight (16.6 g) and harvest index (41.80) were higher in 30 cm x 10 cm spacing. Irrespective of spacing and genotypes, the application of 125 percent RDF (NPK 50: 50: 25) recorded significantly more pods (40.7) per plant, seed yield (41.9 g) per plant, seed yield (2249.1 kgha-¹), straw yield (3094.2 kgha-¹), biological yield (5343.2 kgha⁻¹), 1000 seed weight (16.4 g), harvest index (42.07), net return (Rs.51091.0 ha⁻¹) and BCR (2.3) as compared to 100 percent RDF(NPK 40: 20: 20). Significantly higher number of pods (42.9/pod), seed yield (45.9 g/plant), seed yield (2270.7 kgha-¹), straw yield (3066.8 kgha-¹), biological yield (5337.4 kgha-¹), net return (Rs.51927.0 ha⁻¹) and BCR (2.3) were recorded with AFg-4. Thus, it is inferred that sowing at 22 cm x 10 cm spacing with application of 125 per cent of recommended dose of fertilizer is better for realizing higher yield, net return and BCR.