Effect of Sulphur and Molybdenum on Yield Attributes , Yield and Economics of Fenugreek

Fenugreek is considered as spice as well as legume crop. It is annual herbaceous and autogamous crop belonging to family fabaceae and sub family papillionaceae. Being a leguminous crop it fix atmospheric nitrogen through biological nitrogen fixation for the plant and also enriches the soil with nitrogen. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum L.) popularly known by its vernacular name ‘methi’ is an important vegetable and condiment crop grown in Northern India during rabi season for leaves, shoots and seeds. Its seeds are used as condiment and vegetable for human consumption and as a concentrate for cattle. The seed is bitter in taste due to presence of an alkaloid known as “trigonellin” (0.12 to 0.38%) which is considered as basic material for the synthesis of cellulose, hemicellulose, nutrient and amino acids and is thought to reduce glycosuria in diabetes. It prevents constipation, removes indigestion, stimulates spleen and liver and is appetizing and diuretic. Fenugreek also used in certain aurvedic medicines and in caliclactylence, dysentery, diarrhoea and dyspepsia with loss of appetite (especially ment for gastric troubles). Sulphur is the fourth major essential plant nutrient after N, P and K playing an important role in growth and development of plants and reported to be deficient in soils [1]. Crop removal is the major cause of sulphur depletion in soil. Due to continuous use of high analysis sulphur free fertilizers like Urea, DAP and intensive cropping, sulphur deficiency has been also reported as hidden hunger in many crops, especially oilseeds and pulses. It helps in chlorophyll formation and also a constituent of amino acids like cystine, cysteine and methionine. It is also responsible for synthesis of certain vitamins (biotine and thiamine), proteins, fats and metabolisms of carbohydrates. Gypsum has been found as an effective and cheapest source of sulphur in India as huge deposits of gypsum are available especially in Rajasthan. Molybdenum is the consitutent part of enzymes in plant i.e., nitrate reductase, xanthine dehydrogenase, aldehyde oxidase and sulphite oxidase. Nitrate reductase catalyzes the first step in nitrate assimilation, a pathway that is of key importance for plant nutrition. Xanthine dehydrogenase is involved in purine catabolism aldehyde oxidases catalizes the final oxidation in the phytohormone biosynthesis of indole acetic acid and abscisic acid and sulphite oxidase in catalyzing the formation of sulphate. Molybdenum is also reported to have an essential role in iron absorption and translocation in plants [2]. Molybdenum is essential for the process of symbiotic and non-symbiotic nitrogen fixation. The major objective of the present study is to find out the suitable dose of sulphur and molybdenum for obtaining higher yield of fenugreek. Abstract A field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2011-12 on sandy loam soil to study the effect of sulphur and molybdenum on yield attributes, yield and economics of fenugreek. Results indicated that application of sulphur @ 60 kg/ha and molybdenum @ 1.5 kg/ha significantly increase the pods per plant, seeds per pod, seed yield, straw yield, biological yield and net returns yield and it remained at par with the application of sulphur @ 40 kg/ha and molybdenum @ 1.0 kg/ha over rest of treatments. However, the test weight and harvest index unchanged under different levels of sulphur and molybdenum. Based on result it is concluded that application of sulphur @ 40 kg/ha and molybdenum @ 1.0 kg/ha recorded significantly higher seed yield (15.36 and 15.22 q/ha) and net returns ( 39244 and 38504/ha) of fenugreek.