Advances in Life Sciences 7(1), Print : ISSN 2278-3849, 53-56, 2018

Effect of Vermicompost and Weed Management Practices on Weeds and Yield of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)

C. N. PATEL, S. N. SHAH, P. S PANCHAL AND J. C. SHROFF

Department of Agronomy Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat email: [email protected]

ABSTACT competition. Because of adsorbing effect of vermicompost to the , long lasting management To study the effect of vermicompost and weed management of weed can be obtained. Keeping this in view, the present practices on growth and seed yield of fenugreek a field investigation was conducted. experiment was conducted at Anand, Gujarat during rabi season of 2012-13. The experiment was laid out in factorial MATERIALS AND METHODS randomized block design along with three replications, The investigation was carried out during rabi season two vermicompost levels and eight weed management of the year 2012 at College Agronomy Farm, B. A. College treatments. Treatment combination of Vermicompost 2 t of , Anand Agricultural University, Anand, ha-1 with hand weeding carried out at 20 and 40 DAS was Gujarat. The soil of the experimental field was loamy sand found effective in reducing density as well as dry biomass in texture, lower in available nitrogen (230.60 kg ha-1), medium of weeds and also gave significantly highest seed yield of in available phosphorus (55.30 kg ha-1) and higher in fenugreek. potassium (296.12 kg ha-1) with slightly alkaline (pH 7.7) in reaction. The sixteen treatment combinations consisted of two vermicompost treatments viz., V : 0 t ha-1 and V : 2.0 t Key words Vermicompost, Weed management, Weeds, 0 1 ha-1 and eight weed management treatments viz., W : Weedy Yield, Fenugreek 1 check,W2: Hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS, W 3: Pendimethalin @ 500 g a.i. ha-1 as PE, W : Pendimethalin @ Fenugreek (Trigaonella foenum-graecum L.) locally 4 500 g a.i. ha-1 as PE fb HW at 30 DAS, W : Oxyflourfen @ 80 known as ‘methi’ belonging to the family- Leguminosae 5 g a.i. ha-1 as PE, W : Oxyflourfen @ 80 g a.i. ha-1 as PE fb and Sub family-Papilionacea is widely used as spice and 6 HW at 30 DAS, W : Oxadiargyl @ 75 g a.i. ha-1 as PE and condiment to add flavor in various foods. Fenugreek leaves 7 W : Oxadiargyl @ 75 g a.i. ha-1 as PE fb HW at 30 DAS. The are eaten as vegetable in India, China and the Middle East 8 experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design for centuries. The practitioners of Ayurvedic and (FRBD) with three replications. Fenugreek variety Gujarat Traditional Chinese Medicine have used and documented Fenugreek-2 spaced 30 cm apart was sown in second week methi seeds for its many medicinal uses. The spice is of November with seed rate of 20 kg ha-1. Basal dose of 10 exported in its whole and powdered forms as well as in the kg ha-1 of N and 40 kg ha-1 P were given in form of urea and form of extracted oil which is extensively used as herbal DAP, respectively at the time of sowing. Remaining 10 kg supplements, therapeutic applications, culinary, tea, ha-1 N was given as top dressing after one month of sowing perfumery and dye. Fenugreek occupies an area of 94,760 in form of urea. Weed counts and dry weight of weeds at ha with the production of 127.85 lakh tones and average various stages were taken with the help of quadrate of 1 m productivity of 1349.19 kg ha-1 in India and it occupied an × 1 m size and per cent reduction in weed dry weight in area of 5244 ha with the production of 13.96 lakh tones and comparison to weedy check was expressed as weed average productivity of 2652 kg ha-1 in Gujarat state during management efficiency (WCE). Pre-emergence the year 2012-2013 (Anon., 2013). Vermicompost enhances herbicides were sprayed with Knapsack sprayer fitted with germination, growth, and crop yield, improves root flat fan nozzle using 500 liter of water ha-1. The other package growth and structure and enriches soil with micro-organisms of practices was adopted to raise the crop as per the (Anon., 2011). Weed is an important factor responsible for recommendations. During the experiment, effect of causing tremendous loss in fenugreek owing to initial slow vermicompost levels and weed management treatments on growth which to severe crop-weed-competition and weeds count at 20 and 40 DAS, dry weight of weeds at 20 reduce growth and yield by as high as 91.4% (Mali and and 40 DAS and at harvest, weed index, Suwalka, 1987). Weeds offer maximum competition to efficiency, plant population at 15 DAS and at harvest, plant fenugreek for essentials of growth at its early stage of 25 height at 30, 60 DAS and at harvest, dry weight of root days. Weeds reduce the seed yield to the tune of 14.2 to nodule at 40 DAS, days of 50 % flowering, number of 69.0% depending upon their density and duration of branches plant-1 and number of pods plant-1 at harvest, competition (Kumar et al., 2005). Therefore, herbicides used number of seeds pod-1, test weight, seed and haulm yield alone or in combination with other techniques reduce weed 5 4 Advances in Life Sciences 7(1), 2018

Table 1. Effect of treatments on weed parameters and yield of fenugreek

Weed count (no. m-2) at Weed count (no. m-2) at Total Seed Straw Harvest 20 DAS 40 DAS weed yield yield index WCE dry -1 -1 (%) (%) at WI (kg ha ) (kg ha ) Treatment weight arve- (%) Mon- Mono- (kg ha-1) Dicot Total Dicot Total st ocot cot at harvest

Vermicompost (V)

4.62a 5.37 a 7.08 a 3.13 a a a 9.61a - - -1 3.53 4.62 b b b V0 : Vermicompost 0 t ha 1842.76 3638.89 33.42 (25.13) (36.04) (61.17) (10.33) (13.29) (23.63) (105.54)

4.45 a 5.18 a 6.83 a 3.15 a a a 9.06 a - - -1 3.25 4.44 a a a V1 : Vermicompost 2 t ha 2261.56 4138.32 35.00 (24.50) (32.04) (56.54) (10.21) (11.17) (21.38) (92.46) SEm± 0.11 0.18 0.13 0.09 0.11 0.98 0.21 - - 33.16 56.35 0.37 CD (P=0.05) NS NS NS NS NS NS NS - - Sign. Sign. Sign. Weed management (W)

9.31 a 10.52 a 14.06 a 4.48 a a a 15.84a 4.89 6.57 d e de W1: Weedy check - 58.81 1080.25 2248.61 32.66 (86.67) (111.50) (198.17) (19.83) (23.67) (43.50) (254.33)

d c f c c d d W2: Hand weeding at 20 2.29 2.48 3.32 1.81 1.90 2.54 5.78 63.53 - 2623.10a 4419.44a 37.23a and 40 DAS (4.83) (6.33) (11.17) (3.17) (3.50) (6.67) (33.83)

b b b b b b b W3: Pendimethalin @ 500 g 5.87 5.96 8.37 3.45 3.53 4.85 11.73 25.97 38.20 1620.99c 3529.16d 31.58e ha-1 as PE (34.17) (36.33) (70.50) (11.50) (12.17) (23.67) (137.83)

W4: Pendimethalin @ 500 g c b c d b c 4.70 5.38 7.14 3.30 3.75 b 4.90 b 8.81 ha-1 as PE fb HW at 30 44.35 19.28 2117.28b 4064.58bc 34.10bcd (13.83) (24.33) DAS (21.83) (29.67) (51.50) (10.50) (78.83)

- c b c b a a b W5: Oxyflourfen @ 80 g ha 4.43 6.01 7.53 3.82 4.75 6.02 10.91 31.16 26.17 1936.42b 3796.44cd 33.73bcd 1 as PE (19.50) (37.50) (57.00) (14.17) (22.33) (36.50) (119.33)

- d c e c c c d W6: Oxyflourfen @ 80 g ha 2.80 3.30 4.30 2.32 2.55 3.32 6.52 58.82 5.04 2490.86a 4475.00a 35.84ab 1 as PE fb HW at 30 DAS (7.50) (11.00) (18.50) (5.00) (6.17) (11.17) (43.00)

- c b d b b b c W7: Oxadiargyl @ 75 g ha 4.15 5.29 6.74 3.67 3.38 4.90 9.29 41.37 23.95 1994.75b 3926.30c 33.29cde 1 as PE (17.00) (29.33) (46.33) (13.17) (11.00) (24.17) (86.67)

- 2.73 d 3.25 c 4.19 e 2.27 c c c 6. 17d W8: Oxadiargyl @ 75 g ha 2.36 3.15 a a abc 1 61.05 4.55 2503.66 4599.30 35.25 as PE fb HW at 30 DAS (7.00) (10.67) (17.67) (4.83) (5.17) (10.00) (38.17) SEm± 0.22 0.35 0.27 0.18 0.22 0.19 0.43 - - 66.31 116.45 0.74 CD (P=0.05) Sign. Sign. Sign. Sign. Sign. Sign. Sign. - - 197.38 336.35 2.13 V × W Interaction NS NS NS NS NS NS NS - - Sign. Sign. Sign. C.V.% 11.78 16.48 9.50 14.19 16.22 10.77 11.15 - - 8.18 7.35 5.28

Note : *Figures in the parenthesis are original values. All figures are subjected to transformed values to square root. Figures indicating common letters in the column do not differ significantly from each other at 5% level of significance according to Duncan New Multiple Range Test (DNMRT). and harvest index were recorded. To draw a valid conclusion, RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Square root transformation (“x + 0.5) was employed for weed Effect of treatments on weeds parameters. Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test (DNMRT) was employed for comparison of treatments mean for all There were various weed flora observed in the data. experimental plot. Among them, Monocot weeds were Cynodon dactylon L., Digitaria sanguilanis L., Eragrotis PATEL et al., Effect of Vermicompost and Weed Management Practices on Weeds and Yield of Fenugreek 5 5

Table 2. Seed yield, straw yield and harvest index of fenugreek as influenced by interaction of vermicompost and weed management practices

Vermicompost (V) Treatment -1 -1 V0 : 0 t ha V1 : 2 t ha

Seed yield Straw yield Harvest Seed yield Straw yield Harvest Weed management (kg ha-1) (kg ha-1) index (%) (kg ha-1) (kg ha-1) index (%)

e i defg e h ghi W1 : Weedy check 975.31 1902.78 33.93 1185.19 2594.44 31.38

bc bcde abcd a ab a W2 : Hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS 2428.91 4222.22 36.57 2817.28 4616.66 37.90

-1 d g fghi d ef hi W3 : Pendimethalin @ 500 g ha as PE 1560.49 3277.77 32.38 1681.48 3780.55 30.79

-1 W4 : Pendimethalin @ 500 g ha as PE fb HW at 1827.16d 4143.05bcde 30.57hi 2407.41b 3986.11cde 37.62ab 30 DAS

-1 d fg efgh c bcd cdefg W5 : Oxyflourfen @ 80 g ha as PE 1651.85 3338.89 33.22 2220.99 4253.99 34.23

-1 W6 : Oxyflourfen @ 80 g ha as PE fb HW at 30 2303.95c 4005.55cde 36.52abcd 2677.78ab 4944.44a 35.15abcde DAS

-1 d def i c cde abcd W7 : Oxadiargyl @ 75 g ha as PE 1595.68 3787.50 29.55 2393.83 4065.11 37.03

-1 W8 : Oxadiargyl @ 75 g ha as PE fb HW at 30 2298.77c 4333.33bc 34.62bcdef 2708.56a 4865.27a 35.88abcde DAS

Seed yield Straw yield Harvest index

SEm± 96.65 164.69 1.04

CD (P=0.05) Sign. Sign. Sign.

C.V.% 8.18 7.35 5.28

Note : * Figures indicating common letters in the column do not differ significantly from each other at 5% level of significance according to Duncan New Multiple Range Test. major L. and Dactyloctenium aegyptium L., Dicot weeds (58.82 %) (Table 1). The superiority of said treatments might were Digera arvensis forsk, Chinopodium album L., be due to the fact that initially weeds were managed by Chenopodium murale L., Phyllanthus niruri L., hand weeding carried out at 20 DAS and whatever weeds Asphodeluste nuifolius L. cav and Euphorbia hirta L. and emerged later were effectively removed by subsequent hand Sedges were Cyprus rotundus L. It was observed from data weeding carried out at 40 DAS and in herbicidal treatments given in Table 1 that the differences due to vermicompost prolonged persistence of herbicides and hand weeding levels were seemed to be non-significant with respect to carried out at 30 DAS provided weed free condition. Effective monocot, dicot weed counted at 20 and 40 DAS as well as management of weeds through integrated methods was monocot, dicot and total weed dry weight at 20, 40 DAS reported by Meena and Mehta (2009) and Sharma (2009). and at harvest. Among the different weed management Effect of treatments on yield treatments, treatment of hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS All treatments significantly influenced seed yield, (W2) recorded significantly lower weed count and weed dry weight of monocot and dicot weeds at 20 DAS and 40 straw yield, and harvest index of fenugreek. Vermicompost DAS which was remained at par with treatment of levels and weed management practices showed significant application of oxadiargyl @ 75 g ha-1 as PE fb HW at 30 effect on seed yield, straw yield, and harvest index of DAS (W ) and oxyflourfen @ 80 g ha-1 as PE fb HW at 30 fenugreek. The highest seed yield was recorded under 8 application of vermicompost 2 t ha-1 (V ) (2261.56 kg ha-1) DAS (W ). Significantly lower total dry weight of weeds 1 6 and the lowest was found under V without vermicompost (5.18 kg ha-1) was recorded in W and remained at par with 0 2 -1 -1 -1 (1842.76 kg ha ). This might be due to vermicompost W8 (6.17 kg ha ) and W6 (6.52 kg ha ). Highest weed control efficiency was achieved under the treatment of hand provide as well as good soil condition to the fenugreek crop which can help to increase uptake of weeding at 20 and 40 DAS (W2) (63.53 %) followed by -1 by crop and it is directly affected on growth parameters oxadiargyl @ 75 g ha as PE fb HW at 30 DAS (W8) (61.05 -1 help in increasing seed yield of fenugreek. These results %) and oxyflourfen @ 80 g ha as PE fb HW at 30 DAS (W6) 5 6 Advances in Life Sciences 7(1), 2018 are in accordance with the findings reported by Kumari and Anonymous, 2013. Second advance estimate of . Kumari (2002) and Dhayal et al. (2012). Among weed http://nhb.gov.in. management treatments, significantly higher seed yield of Dhayal, L. R.; Choudhary, R.; Choudhary, R. S. and Sharma, S. R. fenugreek (2623.10 kg ha-1) was recorded under treatment 2012. Effect of integrated nitrogen management on performance of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) under typic of hand weeding carried out at 20 and 40 DAS (W2) and was at par with the treatments of oxadiargyl @ 75 g ha-1 PE ustipsamment. Green Farming 3 (6): 680-682. -1 Kumar, A.; Tripathi, S. S.; Govindra, S. and Singh, V. P. 2005. Efficacy fb HW at 30 DAS (W8) (2503.66 kg ha ) and oxyfluorfen @ 80 g ha-1 PE fb HW at 30 DAS (W ) (2490.86 kg ha-1). These of herbicides on weeds and seed yield of fenugreek (Trigonella 6 foenum gracecum L.). Indian Journal of Weed Science. 37 (3 & treatments also show positive impact on straw yield and 4): 279-280. harvest index as compare to rest of the treatments. Kumari, M. S. and Kumari, K. U. 2002. Effect of vermicompost However, Interaction effect was found significant enriched with rock phosphate on growth and yield of cowpea in respect to seed yield, straw yield and harvest index. V1W2 (Vigna ungiculata L. Walp). Journal of Indian Society of Soil (2817.28 kg ha-1) contributed to the significantly maximum Science. 50 (2): 223-224. -1 seed yield which was at par with V1W8 (2708.56 kg ha ) and Mali, A. L. and Suwalka, S. N. 1987. Studies on weed control in -1 V1W6 (2677.78 kg ha ). This might be due to vermicompost fenugreek (Trigonellafoenumgracecum L.). Indian Journal of play important role to provide balance nutrients and less Agronomy.32 (2): 188-189. crop weed competition during entire crop growth period Meena, S. S. and Mehta, R. S. 2009. Effect of weed management helped to increase seed yield. These results are in practices on weed indices, yield and economics of fennel. Indian accordance with the findings reported by Upadhyay et al. Journal of Weed Sciences. 41(3 & 4): 195-198. (2012) and Singh and Singh (2005). Sharma, O. L. 2009. Integrated weed management in fenugreek. Indian Journal of Weed Science. 41 (3 & 4): 133-135. CONCLUSION Singh, J. and Singh, K. P. 2005. Effect of organic and For securing higher yield the fenugreek crop should herbicides on yield and yield- attributing characters of wheat. be manured with vermicompost 2 t ha-1, coupled with weed Indian Journal of Agronomy.50 (4): 289-291. management either through hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS Upadhyay, R. K.; Patra, D. D.; Tewari, S. K. and Baksh, H. 2012. -1 or pre-emergence application of oxadiargyl @ 75 g ha fb Effect of farm yard , vermicompost, chemical HW at 30 DAS or oxyflourfen @ 80 g ha-1 fb HW at 30 DAS. and integrated weed management on yield, yield contributing characters and quality of mint (Mentha arvensis L.). Crop LITERATURE CITED Research.44 (3): 344-348. Anonymous, 2011. Saskatchewan Herb and Spice Association www.saskherbspice.org/ Received on 22-03-2018 Accepted on 27-03-2018