How To Plant Fenugreek

 

How To Plant Fenugreek 

Fenugreek

Botanical Name : Trigonella foenumgraecum and 

Trigonella corniculata

Family : Fabaceae/Leguminaceae

Chromosome No. : 2n=16 

                                                                                        

In India, fenugreek is used as a vegetable and spice. Its leaves and tender pods are used as vegetables. Dried fenugreek seeds are used as a spice, for seasoning and seasoning vegetables, in pickles and in Ayurvedic medicines.

Origin and Distribution - Although fenugreek has been found growing wild in the north-western parts of North India for a long time, its origin is believed to be from Eastern Europe and Ethiopia. In India, it is mainly grown in North India, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat.

Nutritive value - The food value of fenugreek is shown in the table—

                           (Nutrition Value of Fenugreek per 100 gm)

Moisture                   : 86.1 g Fat                            : 0.9 g Protein                     : 4.4 g Fiber                        : 1.1 g Minerals                  : 1.5 g Carbohydrates       : 6.0 g Magnesium             : 67.0 mg Phosphorus            : 51.0 mg Sodium                   : 76.1 mg Thiamine                : 0.05 mg Calcium                  : 360.0 mg Iron                         : 17.2 mg Potassium               : 51.0 mg Sulfur                      : 167.0 mg Vitamin A               : 6450.0 IU Nicotinic Acid        : 0.7 mg Vitamin C              : 54.0 mg Chlorine                 : 165.0 mg

 

      How To Grow Fenugreek From Seed

Varieties

Fenugreek can be divided into two parts- the first category is of common fenugreek whose botanical name is 'Trigonella Foenumgraecum'. Its plants grow fast and straight shoots emerge from them. Two-three flowers emerge from the base of each leaf. The leaves are long and straight. The second category includes Kasuri or Champa fenugreek. Whose botanical name is "Trigonella Corniculata". Plants of this species grow slowly and remain in bunches during vegetative growth. Later bright orange-yellow flowers develop on long stalks. The pods are small in size and sickle shaped.

Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi has developed the following four varieties-

1. Pusa Early Bunching

2. Kasuri Fenugreek

3. Type-226

4. C.S.-960

The Agriculture Department of Maharashtra has developed the following two varieties of fenugreek-

1. Number 14

2. Number 47 

Latest varieties of fenugreek

Co-1 - This variety has been developed by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. It is grown for leaves and spices. It is an excellent variety for intercropping system. It is a fast growing variety. It is ready for first harvesting 90 days after sowing. Its seed contains 20-30 percent protein. 4-5 tons of green vegetables and 685 kg of grains are obtained per hectare. HM 103 - Its plants are bushy, semi-erect. The grains are large, yellow and attractive. This variety is ready in 140-150 days. 20.1 quintals of yield is obtained per hectare.

Rajendra Kranti - This variety has been developed by Rajendra Agricultural University, Dholi (Bihar). The plants are of medium height, bushy and have many branches. This is a suitable variety for pure crop and intercropping system. The crop is ready for the first harvest 120 days after sowing the variety which is resistant to 'leaf-spot' disease. 1200-1400 kg of yield is obtained per hectare.

     How To Plant Fenugreek Seeds

Rmt-1 - This variety has been developed by Rajasthan Agricultural University, Jobner. Its plants are tall growing and have medium branches. This is a slightly resistant variety to root rot and powdery mildew. This variety is ready for first harvesting after 145 days of sowing. The yield is 1500 kg per hectare.

RMT-143 - This variety is ready in 140-150 days. The grain is thick and yellow in colour. It is resistant to powdery mildew. It is recommended to grow it in heavy soils of Chittor, Bhilwara, Jhalawar and Jodhpur in Rajasthan.

Lam selection - 1 - This variety has been developed by Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University, Lam. This is an early variety, which is ready for first harvesting after 68 days of sowing. The plants of this variety are bushy. It gives 740 kg yield per hectare. Hissar Sonali (HM-57) – This variety was developed by Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University. Hence it has been released for cultivation in Zone IV. It is a tall growing variety (102.8 cm), leaves are dark green, flowers are white, seeds are golden yellow in colour. It is a variety that gets ready in 140-145 days. It gives a yield of 1600-1800 kg per hectare.

UM-305 – It is recommended to sow this variety in beds at a distance of 25-30 cm by 15th November.

Climate – Fenugreek is a cold season crop and it can tolerate frost attack also. Its vegetative growth requires a long cold season.

Soil and its Preparation – For good growth and yield of fenugreek, loamy soil rich in organic matter is the best. However, sandy loamy soil with proper drainage is good for fenugreek cultivation.

While preparing the land, first plough it with a soil turning plough. After that, do 3-4 ploughings with a local plough. Level the field by using a leveller.

   How To Grow Fenugreek

Sowing – In the plains of North India, the suitable time for sowing it is from mid-September to mid-November, however, to get leaves, it can be sown in February. In the mountainous regions, the suitable time for sowing it is March-April. Kasuri fenugreek should be sown in October.

Seed quantity

25 kg of seed is required per hectare for normal fenugreek, whereas 20 kg of seed is sufficient for Kasuri variety. Method of Sowing- Fenugreek is sown in two ways-

1. Scattered Sowing - Divide the field into small beds and sprinkle seeds in them and cover them with a thin layer of soil by running a rake over them.

2. Sowing in rows - Sowing in rows is beneficial for carrying out inter-agricultural activities and getting more yield. The distance between rows should be 20 to 25 cm and the distance between plants should be 10 cm. Germination of normal fenugreek takes place after 5-6 days, whereas Kasuri fenugreek germinates after 7-8 days. Before sowing the seeds, they should be treated with 'Rhizobium mellori culture' and then sown.

Manure and Fertilizers - Manure and fertilizers should be applied in the following quantities per hectare-

    How To Grow Methi From Seeds

Farm Yard Manure - 10-15 tons

Nitrogen - 40 kg

Phosphorus - 40 kg

Potash - 20 kg

Farm Yard Manure should be applied in the field about a month before sowing and the field should be ploughed with a soil turning plough. Mix all the quantities of phosphorus and potash and half the quantity of nitrogen and put it in the soil at the time of final ploughing. Divide the remaining half quantity of nitrogen into several parts and apply it after each harvesting.

Irrigation - Sufficient moisture in the soil is very important for proper germination of fenugreek. If there is lack of moisture in the field, then light irrigation should be done. The remaining irrigations should be done at an interval of 7-10 days. 5-7 irrigations are sufficient. There should be no shortage of water in the field at the time of pod and seed formation.

Weeding and Weeding – Weeding as per requirement gives higher yield. After the second irrigation, when the soil is not wet, do light hoeing.

For weed control, before sowing, spray Fluchoralin at the rate of 0-75 kg per hectare and weeding should be done once after 50 days.

How To Plant Fenugreek 

Harvesting – In normal fenugreek, the first harvesting is done about 4 weeks after sowing. In this, the plants are cut very close to the ground, after that after 4-6 cuts, they are uprooted and tied in bunches and sent to the market, but usually the plants are not uprooted, rather the plants are left after 2-3 cuts, so that seeds can be taken from them. After taking 5-6 cuttings of Kasuri variety of crop, the fruit is left for seed production.

Yield - The yield of fenugreek depends on the fertility of the soil, the variety of fenugreek and the care of the crop. 70-80 quintals of greens are obtained per hectare from the common variety of fenugreek, while 90-100 quintals of greens are obtained from Kasuri fenugreek. 10-11 quintals of seeds are obtained per hectare. If fenugreek is cultivated scientifically, then 15-20 quintals of seeds are obtained per hectare.

Seed Production - Both types of fenugreek produce a lot of seeds. The crop can be left to grow for seed production without cutting the leaves, or as the experiments of Singh and Joshi (1960) have shown, for additional profit, before allowing the plants to grow for seed production, leaves can be harvested twice from Kasuri fenugreek and thrice from common fenugreek for vegetable. However, if the plants are allowed to grow without cutting, the seed yield is more. Similarly, a normal crop grown for seeds yields 1500-1900 kg and a kasuri methi yields about 750 kg of seed per hectare. A normal fenugreek crop grown for dual purposes yields about 250 kg and a kasuri methi yields about 150 kg of seed per hectare. A normal and a kasuri methi grown for seeds are ready in 155 and 165 days respectively.