Abstract:The present investigation on “Performance of fenugreek (
Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) varieties for herbage yield and quality influenced by different harvest intervals in Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh”
was carried out during the year 2020-21 at College of Horticulture, Dr. YSRHU, Anantharajupeta, Annamayya district of Andhra Pradesh. The study includes 21 treatment combinations each replicated thrice in Factorial Randomized Block Design. The treatment combinations included seven varieties
(Lam Sonali, Lam Sel-1, Lam Sel-2, Gujarat Methi-2, AFg-2, AFg-4 and AFg-5) and three harvesting intervals (15, 25 and 35 days after sowing). The results revealed that fenugreek responded well to plant densities and nitrogen levels as well as their interactions.
The morphological parameters like plant height (23.22 cm) and plant spread 11.13 cm2), leaf area (11.04 cm2), internodal length (4.00 cm), was recorded maximum in the variety AFg-2 which was harvested at 35 days after sowing (V5D3) number of primary branches (5.86) was recorded maximum in V6D3 combination. Among yield parameters, the maximum fresh leave per plant (5.26 gm plant-1) total herbage yield (1575.39 kg ha-1) was observed in the combination of and the dry weight of the leaves per plant (2.69 g plant-1) was recorded in V5D3 combination. The physiological parameters like chlorophyll-a (0.009 mg g-1), chlorophyll-b (0.067 mg g-1) and total chlorophyll (0.073 mg g-1) was noticed in treatment combination of V7D3, leaf moisture (3.62%) was observed in V4D3 treatment, leaf area index was recorded maximum in the varieties Gujarat Methi-2 (V4) and Lam Sel-2 (V2) (0.26) which was harvested at 35 days after sowing, leaf weight ratio (0.81) was recorded in the variety AFg-2 when harvested at 35 days after sowing and the specific leaf weight was noted maximum in the treatment combination of V1D1 (1.197 gm cm2). Related to quality parameters the highest carotenoids and crude fibre was observed in the AFg-2 when harvested at 35 days after sowing, ascorbic acid content (6.51 mg g-1) was observed maximum in the combination V4D3, maximum protein content (25.36 mg g-1) was noticed in V5D1, the highest amount of carbohydrates (0.075 mg g-1) and phenols (0.074 mg g-1) was noted in V1D3 treatment combination. The treatment combination of V7D3 was shown the highest calcium content (0.96%), potassium content was noted maximum in V1D2 (4.23%), iron content was recorded in the combination of V4D2 (0.09%) and the magnesium content was observed in the combination of V4D3 & V5D2 (16.81 ppm).