2024, Vol. 7, Special Issue 7

author(s)
Chavda JD, Raval CH, Rathod PH and Patel HK

abstract
An experiment was conducted at College Agronomy Farm, B.A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand 388110 during rabi 2022-2023 to study the effect of phosphorus and Sulphur on fenugreek under loamy sand soil of middle Gujarat. There was total sixteen treatment combinations, four levels of phosphorus (0, 20, 30 and 40 kg P₂O₅/ha) and four level of Sulphur (0, 20, 30 and 40 kg S/ha). In fenugreek, growth and growth attributing characters are more important in respect to higher seed yield. Plant height at 30 DAS (14.50 cm) and at harvest (64.58 cm), number of branches per plant (6.08) was significantly higher by application of 40 kg P₂O₅/ha, same treatment reported higher dry weight of nodules per plant (9.79 mg). Significant response of phosphorus (40 kg P₂O₅/ha) on number of pods per plant (20.25), pod length (12.83 cm) and test weight (13.35 g) at harvest. Higher level of phosphorus application (40 kg P₂O₅/ha) reported 25.31 and 11.45% more seed (1515 kg/ha) and straw (3261 kg/ha) over control treatment (0 kg P₂O₅/ha). Phosphorus content (0.458 and 0.196%, seed and straw respectively), uptake (6.96 and 6.42 kg/ha) and sulphur uptake (4.70 and 6.55 kg/ha) higher in treatment where 40 kg P₂O₅/ha was applied. Non-significant response of phosphorus on harvest index, protein content, sulphur content. Sulphur is also responsible for synthesis of certain vitamins (biotin and thiamine), proteins, fats and metabolism of carbohydrates. Role of sulphur on growth parameters found significant, application of 40 kg S/ha reported significantly higher plant height (14.50 and 64.16 cm, at 30 DAS and harvest, respectively), number of branches per plant (6.33). Increasing dry weight of nodules (9.38 mg) with increasing rate of sulphur up to 40 kg S/ha. Significantly the maximum number of pods per plant (20.66), test weight (13.30 g) and higher pod length (12.66) reported in treatment S₃ (40 kg S/ha), but pod length was remain at par with the rest of sulphur levels except control. Application of 40 kg S/ha reported 20.39 and 8.90% higher seed (1476 kg/ha) and straw (3258 kg/ha) yield over control treatment. Sulphur content (0.319 and 0.213% in seed and straw, respectively), phosphorus uptake (6.45 and 5.92 kg/ha, by seed and straw, respectively) and sulphur uptake (4.72 and 6.94 kg/ha, by seed and straw, respectively) were reported maximum in treatment S₃ (40 kg S/ha). Protein content, phosphorus content and harvest index did not show response of sulphur. Levels of phosphorus and sulphur significantly effected economics of fenugreek. Higher net realization (76271 and 73348 ₹/ha, respectively) was reported in treatment P₃ (40 kg P₂O₅/ha) and S₃ (40 kg S/ha).