FENUGREEK

Fenugreek popularly know as methi, belongs to leguminous family. It is the most common vegetable grown throughout the country. Leaves are used for vegetable purpose and its seed are used for flavouring purpose. Leaves and seed also have medicinal value, they help to reduce blood sugar and cholesterol. It is also used for fodder purpose. In India, Rajasthan is major fenugreek growing state. Other major fenugreek producing states are, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. Hisar, Ambala, Karnal, kurukshetra, Sonipat and Yamuna nagar are measured fenugreek producing districts.

It can be grown in all type of soil rich in organic content but give best result when grown in well drained loamy or sandy loam soils. It can tolerate pH of range 5.3 to 8.2.

Kasuri: Variety having small, thin, delicate leaves with good flavour. Popular among consumer.

Pusa early bunching: Dark green, bigger, larger and less flavour leaves compared to kasuri variety.

Hissar Sonal: Quick growing variety developed by CCS, HAU.

HM 219: High yielding variety, gives average yield of 8-9 qtl/acre. It is resistant to powdery mildew disease.

Hisar Mukta: Developed by CCS, HAU gives resistant to downy mildew.

Hisar Suvarna: Developed by CCS, HAU is resistant to leaf spot.

Other States Variety

Other commercial variety: Methi No 47, CO 1,  Methi no 14. , Rajendra Kranti, RMT 303, Gujarat Methi 1, RMT 1

To bring soil to fine tilth, plough land for two-three times. Then carried out planking operation to make land levelled and uniform. At time of last ploughing, add 8-10 ton/acre of well decomposed cow dung. For sowing prepared flat beds of 3x2m.

Time of sowing
Optimum time for fenugreek cultivation is from last week of October to first week of November. 

Spacing
For sowing, use Line to line spacing of 20 cm. 

Sowing Depth
Sow seeds on bed at depth of 3-4 cm.

Method of sowing
For sowing broadcasting method is used.

Seed Rate
Use seed rate of 8-10 kg for sowing one acre land. 

Seed treatment
To increase germination percentage, before sowing, soaked seeds in water for 8-12 hr. To protect seeds from soil born pest and diseases, treat them with Thiram@4gm/kg or Carbendazim 50%WP@3gm/kg of seed. After chemical treatment, treat seeds with Azospirillum@300g/acre + Trichoderma Viride@20gm/acre for 12kg of seeds.

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

For good growth and yield, fenugreek crop required about 20 ton of FYM or well decomposed cow dung along with 32kg of Nitrogen (Urea@70kg) and 16kg of Phosphorus (SSP@100kg) per acre. Apply cow dung, N and Pat time of sowing.

For fast growth take spray of Triacontanol hormone@20ml/10Ltr 15-20 days after germination. Also one spray of NPK (19:19:19) fertilizer@75gm/15Ltr of water at 20 days of sowing helps in good and faster growth of crop. To obtained more yield, spray Brassinolide@50ml/acre/150Ltr water, 40-50 days after sowing. Take its second spray after 10 days. To protect plant from frost injury gives two sprays of Thiourea @150gm/acre/150Ltr of water at 45 & 65 days after sowing.

Pre-sowing irrigation is necessary for quick germination of seed. Three to four irrigations (i.e. 30th, 75th, 85th and 105th day after sowing) are required for optimum yield. Avoid water stress at pod and seed development stage as it leads to heavy loss in yield.

To keep field weed free, take one or two hoeings operations. Take first weeding 25-30days after sowing and second 30 days after first weeding. To control weeds chemically, pre-plant application of Fluchloralin@800 ml/acre is recommended or for weed control spray with Pendimethaline@1.3 Ltr/acre,by mixing in 200Ltr water within1-2 days of sowing at proper soil moisture. 

When plant is about 4 inch height, do pinching operation, it will encourages branching.

• Pest and their control:
  

Aphid: If Infestation of aphid is observed, to control take spray of Imidacloprid@3 ml/10Ltr water or Thiamethoxam@4 gm/10Ltr of water.

• Disease and their control:
  

Root rot: To protect crop from root rot, as preventive measure do soil application of Neem Cake@60 kg/acre. Also treat seeds with Trichoderma viride@4 gm/kg of seed. If infestation of root rot, is observed in field to control, drenched soil with Carbendazim @0.5gm/Ltr of water or Copper oxychloride@2 gm/litre of water.

Powdery Mildew: Patchy, White powdery growth appears on upper surface of leaves.
If infestation is observed take spray of water soluble sulphur@20gm/10Ltr of water. If needed repeat spray with interval of 10 days. Or take spray of Penconazole10EC@100 ml/acre/200Ltr of water.

When cultivated for vegetable purpose, start harvesting 20-25 days after sowing whereas for grain purpose, harvesting is to be done 90-100 days after sowing. For grain purpose, carry out harvesting when lower leaves and pods turn yellow. Use sickle for harvesting.

After harvesting, tie crops in bundle and allowed to dry in sunlight for 6-7 days. After proper drying, carry out threshing, then cleaning and grading operation.