Response of Fenugreek Varieties to Seed Yield and Economics under Different Farming System modules

Introduction

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is an important seed spice crop of the family Fabaceae, widely cultivated during the rabi season across northern and western parts India, particularly in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. Both seeds and leaves are valued for their nutritional and medicinal properties, being rich in protein, minerals and bioactive compounds such as diosgenin and trigonelline. Despite its economic importance, fenugreek is often grown under marginal conditions with low soil fertility, resulting in poor productivity. Excessive dependence on chemical fertilizers in conventional farming has led to soil degradation and environmental issues, prompting renewed emphasis on organic and natural farming systems that improve soil health and sustainability. Integrating organic manures and balanced nutrient management can enhance crop seed yield while maintaining ecological balance. Hence, the present study on the evaluation of fenugreek varieties (Trigonella foenumgraecum L.) under different farming system modules for seed production potential in the Northern dry zone of Karnataka" was undertaken to assess the performance of varieties under varied farming modules with respect to yield and economics.

Material and Methods

The field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2024-25 at the College of Horticulture, UHS, Bagalkot. The site is located at 16°18′ N latitude, 75°69′ E longitude, and 542 m above MSL, representing the Northern dry zone (Zone III) of Karnataka. The soil was light black loam, slightly alkaline (pH 8.46). The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with four farming system modules as main plots viz., natural (M₁), organic (M₂), integrated (M₃), recommended package of practices (M₄) and four fenugreek varieties viz., Krishna Prabha Devimenthe 1 (V 1 ), AFg-3 (V 2 ),, AFg-4 (V 3 ), and AFg-5 (V 5 ), as subplots, replicated thrice. Seeds were sown at 30 × 10 cm spacing using healthy, disease-free seeds. For natural (M₁) jeevamrutha, beejamrutha and mulching practices were practiced, organic (M₂) vermicompost applied on nitrogen equivalent base, integrated (M₃) 50% RPP + vermicompost @ 2 t/ ha + FYM 5 t/ha and recommended package of practices (M₄) with application of NPK @ 50: 25: 40 kg/ha + FYM 10 t/ha were followed as per farming system practices. Full dose of phosphorus, potash and half dose of nitrogen is applied at the time of sowing as basal dose and remaining 50 per cent of nitrogen applied 30 after days sowing. Nutrient and crop management practices were followed as per respective modules.

RESULT AND DUSCUSSION a. Yield

Seed yield and biological yield per hectare was analysed to record yield potential of fenugreek seeds. Significantly, higher seed yield (884 kg/ha) and biological yield (2811 kg/ha) was recorded with M 4 module, M 1 module recorded on par results. The varietal response was found to be non-significant. The effect of interaction was differed significantly, the significantly highest seed yield (914 kg/ha) was noticed with M 4 V 4 and it was found on par with

The almost similar trend was noticed with respect to biological yield. Lowest seed yield (622 kg/ha) and biological yield (2024 kg/ha) recorded with interaction M 2 V 3 . These findings are in conformity with the study by Ruan et al. (2023) [6] which showed that organic cultivation was less productive than conventional cultivation in terms of growth and yield of fragrant rice. Korat et al. (2020) [3] also found that conventional or package of the practices farming system module recorded significantly higher yield attributes and lowest yield recorded with natural farming system module in chickpea crop. Natural farming module recorded higher yield next to the package of practices farming system module these results were agreement with Goveanthan et al. (2020) [1] and Kaur et al. (2021) [2] where liquid formulation of Jeevamruth on foliar application resulted in higher biomass thereby increased seed yield.

b. Economics

The economic data reveals that, the expenditure on cultivation of fenugreek varied because of different cost with respect to different modules (table 2). The M 1 , M 2 , M 3 and M 4 modules cost of cultivation incurred was Rs. 28,350, Rs. 36,050, Rs. 37,900 and Rs. 41,900 per hectare, respectively due to various treatments imposed during the course of investigation. Maximum expenditure was incurred on M 4 (package of practice farming system module). Whereas, minimum expenditure was incurred on M 1 (natural farming system module). The gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio (table 2 and 3) differed significantly for farming system modules. The significantly highest gross returns of Rs. 70,749 per hectare was noticed package of practices farming system module (M 4 ) while least gross returns of Rs. 53,133 per hectare was noticed organic farming system module (M 2 ). But, significantly highest (Fig. 1) net returns and B:C ratio (Rs. 38,123/ha, 2.34, respectively) was noticed with natural farming system module (M 1 ). However, it was on par with package of practices farming system module (M 4 ). Significantly least net returns and B:C ratio (Rs. 17,095/ha, 1.47, respectively) With respect to varietal performance the gross returns, net returns and benefit cost ratio were not differed significantly. With respect to interaction effects, significantly highest net returns and B:C ratio Rs. 39,844/ha, 2.41, respectively) was noticed with the interaction of natural farming with a variety AFg-5 (M 1 V 4 ) which was on par with M 1 V 2 , M 1 V 3 and M 1 V 1 . Minimum net returns of Rs. 13,707 and benefit cost ratio of 1.38 were recorded with treatment M 1 V 3 . Due to the reason that natural farming system module incurred lowest cost of cultivation than the other farming system modules which leads to significantly highest net returns and B:C ratio. Natural farming system module also recorded on par seed yield per hectare with the recommended package of practices modules. But even though higher cost of cultivation was noticed with package of practices farming system module with four varieties and also incurred significantly highest gross returns. These results are in conformity with the findings of Kaur et al. (2021) [2] where in wheat under natural farming system at Palampur recorded highest economic returns. Lima et al. (2022) recorded similar with our findings on application of 100 q/ha FYM + Beejamritha + Ghanjeevamritha + Jeevamritha gave the maximum net returns per hectare (Rs.

Conclusion

The package of practices farming system module found to get the higher seed yield (884 kg/ha) and it was found on par with natural farming system module. The interaction of package of practices farming system module with a variety AFg-5 (M 4 V 4 ) recorded significantly highest seed yield (914 kg/ha) and it was found on par with M

Lowest seed yield was recorded with organic farming system module. Minimum expenditure was incurred on M 1 (natural farming system module). Significantly highest net returns and B:C ratio of Rs. 39,844/ha, 2.41, respectively was noticed with the interaction of natural farming with a variety AFg-5 (M 1 V 4 ) which was on par with M 1 V 2 , M 1 V 3 and M 1 V 1 . Minimum net returns of Rs. 13,707 and benefit cost ratio of 1.38 were recorded with treatment M 1 V 3 .

Forestry; 2022. 5. Mallikarjun M, Kumari CR, Sireesha E, Naik KB, Yugandhar V, Harini M. Effect of organic, natural and inorganic farming practices on growth, yield and economics of paddy. Int J Res Agron. 2024;7(3):572-575. 6. Ruan S, Luo H, Wu F, He L, Lai R, Tang X. Organic cultivation induced regulation in yield formation, grain quality attributes, and volatile organic compounds of fragrant rice. Food Chem. 2023;405:134845. 7. Tania C, Bhupenchandra I, Devi CP, Phonglosa A, Sonia C, Singh MN, Chandramani P, Devi YP, Devi HL, Dasgupta M, Wahengbam ED. Unveiling the implications of organic nutrient management protocols on soil properties, economic sustainability, and yield optimization in fenugreek cultivation in acidic soils of Northeast India. Sustainability. 2024;16(16):7241.

References

1. Goveanthan AS, Sugumaran MP, Gudimetha GK, Akila S, Suganya K, Somasundaram E. Studies on organic inputs (jeevamruth and beejamruth) and their efficacy on fenugreek. Pharma Innov J. 2020;9:92-94.
2. Kaur P, Saini JP, Meenakshi A. Optimization of jeevamrit doses and application time for enhancing productivity of wheat under natural farming system. J Pharmacogn Phytochem. 2021;10(1):405-408.
3. Korat HV, Mathukia RK, Faldu MR. Influence of low-cost natural farming, organic farming and conventional farming on performance of wheat and chickpea. Guj J Ext Edu. 2022;Special Issue:33-37.