Effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and bio-fertilizer levels on yield attributes, yield and economics of fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum L.)

A field experiment was conducted at Sardarkrushinagar during the year 2006–07 and 2007–08 to find out optimum levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and bio-fertilizer for realising higher yield of fenugreek. The experiment consisting of sixteen treatment combinations with two levels each of nitrogen (10 and 20 kg N per ha) and phosphorus (20 and 40 kg P₂ O₅ per ha) as well as four levels of bio-fertilizer (control, inoculation of seed with Rhizobium, inoculation of seed with PSB and inoculation of seed with Rhizobium+ PSB) was laid in factorial randomised block design with three replications. Results revealed that increasing levels of N and P₂ O₅ significantly increased yield attributes, yield, net return and BCR over their respective lower levels. Inoculation of seed with Rhizobium and PSB resulted the highest pod length, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, 1000-seed weight and seed yield per plant. Seed, straw and biological yield as well as gross return, net return and BCR was recorded the highest with inoculation of seed by Rhizobium and PSB followed by seed inoculation with Rhizobium only. Thus, higher seed, straw and biological yield as well as net return and BCR in fenugreek can be realised with application of 20 kg N/ha and 40 kg P₂O₅ per ha with seed inoculation by Rhizobium and PSB.