Influence of Irrigation Scheduling and Weed Management Practices on Growth, Yield and Protein Content of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L)

Abstract

A field trial on growth, yield and quality of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L) as influenced by irrigation scheduling and weed management practices was conducted during rabi season of 2006-07 and 2007-08 at S.D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar. The experiment consisting of three levels of irrigation ( 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 IW/CPE ratios) in main plot and six weed control methods (Weedy check, weed free, hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS, HW at 20 + Inter–culturing at 40 DAS, application of Pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg ha-1 (PE) and application of Pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg ha-1 (PE) + IC at 40 DAS) in sub plots was laid out in split plot design with four replications. Application of irrigation at 1.0 IW/CPE ratio resulted significantly higher plant height at all the growth stages as well as seed and straw yield during both the years as well as in pooled analysis. Protein content in seed and straw were not significantly affected in both the years but in pooled analysis significantly higher protein content was recorded in seed and straw with irrigation at 1.0 IW/CPE ratio. Besides weed free treatment, the highest plant height as well as seed yield and straw yields were recorded with pre emergence application of Pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg per ha + IC at 40 DAS followed by hand weeding (HW) at 20 and 40 DAS during both the years which were statistically at par with each other as well as with weed free treatments and significantly superior over rest of the treatments but protein content in seed and straw was not significantly influenced with weed management practices