The effect of planting date, nitrogen and phosphorus on yield and yield components of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Agriculture, Birjand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Birjand, Iran

3 Master of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture Jihad

Abstract

Introduction: Medicinal crops production is well interested in Iran due to market demand in recent years. Silybum marianum L. is an annual or biennial plant, native to the Mediterranean region, which now could be found in other warm and dry regions. Silybium marianum is used traditionally as a hepatoprotective agent and supportive treatment of liver disorders. Its fruits contain flavonolignan compounds, silymarin, which silybin is the main constitute (Abdolahzareh et al., 2012). Management of planting date and integrated nutrition systems in medicinal plants have to be considered. Sowing date affects the crop yields through changing weather parameters in the growth period. In addition to planting date, fertilizers rate and type, has an influence on crop production. Today continuous and excessive application of chemical fertilizers may have negative impacts on soil health and environment causing environmental problems (Mohammadpour Vashvaei et al., 2017). Bio-fertilizers are considered as sustainable alternative sources of nutrients compared to the synthesized fertilizers. The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of sowing date and fertilizing system (chemical, biological and integrated) on the morphological traits and yield of the milk thistle under Birjand, Iran conditions.

Materials and Methods: This research was carried out at the research farm of Birjand branch, Islamic Azad University, Birjand, Iran, in 2018. The experiment was conducted as a split plot based on a randomized complete blocks design with three replications. Three sowing dates (March 6, April 4 and May 5) and 6 fertilizing systems (non-fertilizer as control, NPK, vermicompost, Akadin, 50% NPK + 50% vermicompost, 50% NPK + 50% Akadin) were as main plots and sub plots respectively. In the study the responses of some morphological traits and yield of Milk Thistle were evaluated. Soil texture in the site of study was loam. Soil pH and EC were 7.4 and 2.3 mmos/cm respectively. Nitrogen, P, and K content of the soil were 3.8, 11.6 and 75.2 mg/kg at the depth of 0-30 cm, respectively. All data were analyzed by SAS statistical software and means were compared by LSD Test at 5% level.

Results and Discussion: The first planting date (March 6) had the highest average morphological traits (plant height, capitol diameter and number of branches) and seed yield components (capitol number per m2, number of seed per capitol, 1000-seed weight, seed yield). On the other hands the treatments 50% NPK and 50% vermicompost fertilizers had statistical superiority for most of the studied traits. The highest (3327.7 kg/ha) and the lowest (318.4 kg/ha) seed yield were related to the treatments NPK+ vermicompost at the first planting date and treatment of non-fertilizer application at the third planting date, respectively. It seems that seed yield declining for the planting date of May 5, was related to the shortening of growth season and the coincidence of pollination with summer heating. This caused a severe decrease in the number of capitol per m2 and the number of seed per capitol. Normally, using organic fertilizers with chemical fertilizers improves physical aspects of the soil; increases microorganisms activity in the soil, nutrients availability, photosynthesis, yield components and eventually seed yield (Mohammadpour Vashvaei et al., 2017). Similar results also have been reported by Zarghani et al. (2019). Morphological traits quantity positively correlated to yield components and seed yield. Thus the highest value for these traits were observed for the first planting date under using NPK+ vermicompost. As a result, the superiority of seed yield of Silybum marianum in this treatment compared to other treatments, was to be expected. The results of regression analysis showed that traits capitol diameter, number of capitol per m2, number of seed per capitol and 1000-seed weight were entered into the regression model, which explained 84.57% of total seed yield changes.

Conclusions: In general, the planting date of March 6 was superior to the other two planting dates and this planting date could be suggested as a suitable date for the cultivation of Milk Thistle in Birjand region under using 50% NPK+ 50% vermicompost.

Keywords


Ahamefule, E., Peter, H., and Chinedu, P., 2014. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) response to    phosphorus fertilizer under two tillage and mulch treatments. Soil and Tillage Research, 136: 70–75.
Alijani, M., Amini Dehaghi, M., Malboobi, M.A., Zahedi, M., and Modares Sanavi, S.A.M., 2011. The effect of different levels of phosphorus fertilizer together with phosphate bio-fertilizer (Barvar 2) on yield, essential oil amount and chamazulene percentage of Matricaria recutita L. Iranian Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 27(3): 450-459. (In Persian with English abstract).
Asgharipour, M.R., and Bijani, M., 2016. Effect of mycorrhizal inoculation and phosphorus fertilizer on fenugreek resistance against arsenic. Journal Science and Technology Greenhouse Culture, 8(26): 137-150. (In Persian with English abstract).
Azadi, I., Pezeshkpour, P., and Nasrollah, H., 2013. Evaluation the effect of planting season and crop density on yield and yield density of lentil (Ghachsaran variety) in the dry land condition. Annals of Biological Research, 4(2): 47-50.
Badsra, S.R., and Chaudhary, L., 2001. Association of yield and its components in Indian mustard (Brassica Juncea L). Agricultural Science Digest, 21(2): 83-86.
Bairagi, S.K., 2014. Efeect of different doses of phosphorus and row spacing on the yield and quality of fenugreek seed. The Asian Journal of Horticulture, 9(2): 338-341.
Chango, G., and McVetty, P.B.E., 2001. Relationship of physiological characters to yield parameters in oilseed rape. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 81: 1-6.
Devnarain, N., Crampton, B.G., Chikwamba, R., Becker, J.V.W. and O'Kennedy, M.M., 2016. Physiological responses of selected African sorghum landraces to progressive water stress and re-watering. South African Journal of Botany, 103: 61–69.
Emam, Y., and Niknejad, M., 2011. Introduction on Crop Physiology. Shiraz University Publication. 571Pp. (In Persian with English abstract).
Fanaei, H.R., Piri, E., and Naroeirad, M.R., 2013. Effect of different phosphorus rates on seed yield, oil and agronomic traits of Brassica juncea L. under drought stress. Environmental Stresses in Crop Sciences, 6(2): 147-157.
Ghanbari, M., Mirzakhani, M., and Faridhashemi, S.A. 2016. Respose of nitrogen physiological efficiency of safflower to manure and chemical fertilizers in Khashan region. Journal of Iranian Plant Ecophysiology Research, 11(41): 53-64. (In Persian with English abstract).
Habibzade, Y., Mamakghni, R., Khashani, R., and Mesgharbasi, M., 2006. Effect of plant density on yield and some of vegetative and reproductive traits of Vigna radiata L. Varieties in Ahvaz region. Iranian Journal of Agriculture Science, 37(2): 327-335. (In Persian with English abstract).
Hamzeie, R., Tavakolafshari, R., Majnonhoseyni, N., and Sharifi Ashorabadi, A., 2006. Study of plant density and nitrogen levels on quantitative and qualitative yield of German chamomile (Matricaria Chamomilla L). Iranian Journal of Agriculture Sciences, 37(3): 545-553. (In Persian with English abstract).
Jagdale, Y.L., and Dalve, P.D., 2011. Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus levels on seed yield and quality of fenugreek. The Asian Journal of Horticulture, 6(1): 81-84.
Kolodziej, B., 1998. The effect of the time of sowing on fenugreek (Trigonella foenum gracum L.) yield. Herba Polonica, 44(4): 392-396.
Lack, S.H. 2013. Evaluation of physiological traits effective on seed yield of corn in different irrigation, nitrogen and plant density levels. Crop Physiology Journal, 5(19): 17-33. (In Persian with English abstract).
Maletic, R., and Jevdjovic, R., 2007. Sowing date- the factor of yield and quality of fenugreek seed (Trigonella foenum gracum L.). Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Belgrade, 52(1): 1-8.
Markarian, S.H., Najafi, N., Aliasgharzad, N., and Oustan, S.H. 2015. Effects of Sinorhizobium meliloti bacterium and phosphorus on leaf chlorophyll index, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in alfalfa shoot and root under drought stress conditions. Journal of Water and Soil Science, 25(1): 27-45.
Marschner, H. 1995. Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants, Academic Press, USA.
Mental, R.S., and Patel, B.S. 2011. Effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and bio-fertilizers on yield and profitability of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.).  Madras Agricultural Journal, 98 (4-6): 154-157.
Moosavi, S.G., Seghatoleslami, M.J., and Delarami, M.R. 2014. Effect of sowing date and plant density on yield and yield components of lentil (Lens culinaris cv. Sistan). Annual Review and Research in Biology, 4(1): 296-305.
Moosavi, S.G., Seghatoleslami, M.J., Khosravi, M., and Joyban, Z. 2012. Effect of irrigation interval, N fertilizer rate and plant density on yield and chemical composition of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-gracum L.). Journal of Medicinal Plants and By-products, 2: 91-99.
Najafi, N., Parsazadeh, M., Tabatabaei, S.J., and Ostan, S.H. 2010. Effect of nitrate to ammonium ratio in nutrient solution on growth charactercticts and yield of Spinach (Spinacia oleracea). Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research, 41(2): 273-282. (In Persian with English abstract).
Ners Al-Kahtani, S., Abdou Taha, E.K., and Al-Abdulsalam, M. 2017. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) seed yield in relation to phosphorus fertilization and honeybee pollination. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 24(5): 1051-1055.
Omidbeigi, R. 2011. Medicinal herbs production and processing approaches. Tarrahan-e Nashr Publication House, Tehran, Iran, pp. 424. (In Persian).
Pezeshkpour, P., Ahmadi, A.R., and Daneshvar, M. 2005. Effects of planting dates on grain yield and yield compontent, SPAD reading as indicator and light influnce bottom of the canopy in chickpea cultivars. Proceeding of the 1nd national pluse crops symposium of Iran. 20and 21 November, Research Institute of Plant Sciences of Ferdows University of Mashhad.
Rahemi Karizaki, A. 2011. Investigation the changes of physiological and morphological traits associated with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield. PhD Thesis, Sciences and Natural Resources Gorgan University Agricultural. Iran.
Rahemi, M. 2004. Pollination and fruit formation. Publication of Shiraz University. (In Persian).
Rahmani, T., Heidarie-Shrifabad, H., and Madani, H. 2012. Effect of planting date on yield of Phaseolus vulgaris cultivars in Alighodarz region. Journal of New Agricultural Science, 6(4): 321-335.
Riahinia, S.H., Khazaei, H.R., Kafi, M., and Nezami, A. 2013. Effects of water stress and soil nitrogen levels on some biochemical properties in grain sorghum cultivars under greenhouse conditions. Journal Science and Technology of Greenhouse Culture, 4(14): 61-71.
Sadeghi, H., Heidari Sharifabd, H., Hamidi, A., Noormohammadi, G.H., and Madani, H. 2015. Effect of planting date and plant density on net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, leaf chlorophyll index and grain yield of soybean in Meghan and Karaj areas. Plant Ecophysiology, 7(23): 85-94. (In Persian with English abstract).
Safikhani, F., Heidarie-Shrifabad, H., Siadat, A., and Abaszadeh, B. 2007. Effect of drought on yield andmorphological traits of Dracocephalum moldavica L. Iranian Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 23(3): 183-194. (In Persian with English abstract).
Samadi Firozabadi, B., and Yazdani, F. 2012. Effect of sowing date on seed and oil yields of four safflower cultivars in Varamin region of Iran. Seed and Plant Production Journal, 28(4): 459-470.
Seghatoleslami, M.J., and Ahmadi Bonakdar, K.H. 2010. The effect of sowing date and plant density on yield and yield components of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum gracum L). Iranian Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 26(2): 265-274. (In Persian with English abstract).
Sharma, S., Sharma, Y., and Balai, C.M. 2014. Yield attributes and yield of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum gracum L.) under different levels of phosphorus, molybdenum and inoculation of PSB. Agriculture Update, 9(3): 301-305.
Shokhmgar, M. 2009. Effect of irrigation interval and nitrogen fertilizer on yield and traits of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.). M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Birjand Branch, Birjand, Iran. [In Persian]
Siyami, R., Mirshekari, B., and Farahvash, F. 2013. Sowing date and mixing rate could improve crops yield Case study: intercropping of maize and lentil. Life Science Journal, 10(5s): 283-287.
Srivastava, M., Kumar J.H.A.N., and Singh, B.K. 2015. Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus on growth, leaf and seed yield of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) Cv. Pusa early bunching. Annals of Agric-Bio Research, 20(1): 51-53.
Zandi, P., Shirani–Rad, A.H., Daneshian, J., and Bazrkar–Khatibani, L. 2011. Agronomic and morphologic analysis of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) under nitrogen fertilizer and plant density via factor analysis. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 6(5): 1134-1140.
Zargari, A., 1990. Medicinal Plants. University of Tehran Publication. Tehran, Iran. (In Persian)