For Clean, Smart and Profitable Farming.
Horticulture: Crop Plantation Guidence
SPICES & CONDIMENTS : Fenugreek Cultivation
|
Fenugreek, a native of South Eastern Europe and West Asia, is cultivated as a leafy vegetable, condiment and as medicinal plant. The fresh tender leaves and stem are consumed as curried vegetable and the seeds are mainly used as spice for flavoring almost all dishes. It has a high medicinal value as it prevents constipation, removes indigestion, stimulates spleen and liver and is appetizing and diuretic. |
 |
Botanical name of fenugreek is Trigonella foenum-graecum L. It is exported to Saudi Arabia, Japan, Sri Lanka, Korea and UK. The major states growing fenugreek in India are Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Punjab. | |
It is an annual herb reaching a height of about 0.9 m, leaves are light green, pinnately trifoliate, flowers – papilionaceous, fruits – legume, long, narrow, curved, tapering with a slender point and containing small deeply furrowed seeds. There are two species of the genus Trigonella, which are of economic importance viz., T.foenum graecum, the common methi and T.corniculata, the Kasuri methi. These two differ in their growth habit and yield. The latter one is a slow growing type and remains in rosette condition during most of its vegetative growth period. |
 |
Climate and Soil
It has a wide adaptability and is successfully cultivated both in the tropics as well as temperate regions. It is tolerant to frost and freezing weather. It does well in places receiving moderate or low rainfall areas but not in heavy rainfall area. It can be grown on a wide variety of soils but clayey loam is relatively better. The optimum soil pH should be 6.0 to 7.0 for its better growth and development.
Varieties
Many improved cultivars are now available for cultivation. They are briefly described hereunder.
| Variety | Parentage | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| CO1 | Reselection from TG 2336 | Duration of the crop is 90 days. Dual purpose quick growing, suited for intercropping, high seed protein 20-23%. Yield per ha 685kg grain, 4.51 of green. |
| Rajendra Kanti | Mass selection | Duration of the crop is 120 days. High yield, medium height, bushy, suited for pure as well as intercropping. Seed protein: 9.5%. yield per ha 1200 - 1400 kg grain |
| RMt-1 | Pure line selection from Nagpur type | Duration of the crop is 145 days. High yield, moderately branched, moderately tolerant, to root rot and powder mildew. Seed protein: 21%. Yield per ha 1500 kg grain |
| Lam Sel.1 | A selection from germplasm | Duration of the crop is 68 days. High yield, bushy plant type. Seed protein: 53%. Yield per ha 750 kg grain |
Land preparation and sowing
Land is prepared by ploughing thrice and beds of uniform size are prepared. Broadcasting the seed in the bed
and raking the surface to cover the seeds is normally followed. But, line sowing is
advocated in rows at 20 to 25 cm apart which facilitates the intercultural operations.
Sowing in the plains
is generally taken up in September to November while in the hills, it is grown from March.
Approximately 20 to 25 kg of seed is required for one hectare and the seed takes about 6-8
days to complete its germination.
Manures and fertilizers
Besides 15 tonnes of farm yard manure, a fertilizer dose of 25 kg Nitrogen, 25 kg Phosphorus and 50 kg Potash per ha is recommended. Half of the nitrogen dose and the entire quantity of phosphorus and potash are applied basally and the remaining half Nitrogen is applied 30 days after sowing. To obtain more successful leafy growth, nitrogen should be applied after each cutting.
Irrigation
First irrigation is given immediately after sowing and subsequent irrigation is applied at 7 to 10 days interval.
Harvesting
In about 25 to 30 days, young shoots are nipped off 4 to 5 cm above ground level and subsequent cuttings of leaves may be taken after 15 days. It is advisable to take 1 to 2 cuttings before the crop is allowed for flowering and fruiting. When pods are dried, the plants are pulled out, dried in the sun and seeds are threshed by beating with stick or by rubbing with hands. Seeds are winnowed, cleaned and dried in the sun. They may be stored in gunny bags lined with paper.
Yield
A yield of 1200 to 1500 kg of seeds and about 800 to 100 kg of leaves may be obtained per hectare in crops grown for both the purposes.
Plant protection
Root rot (Rhizoctonia solani) is a serious disease and can be controlled by drenching carbendazim 0.05% first at the onset of the disease and another after one month.
