Biotech Studies 1994, Vol 3, Num, 1-2     (Pages: 063-071)

EFFECT OF SEEDING RATES AND INTER-ROW SPACING ON SOME PLANT CHARACTERISTICS OF FENUGREEK (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)

Neşet ARSLAN

1 A.Ü. Ziraat Fakültesi Tarla Bitkileri BL. 06110 - ANKARA - Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) plant has been used as a spice for a long time. It is used in pressed and spiced meet production in Turkey. It is an appetizer and a tonic. Fenugreek is also an important diosgenin source. This work was carried out at inter-row spacing of 15, 30 or 45 cm and seeding rates of 20, 30 or 40 kg/ha. Highest seed yield was obtained from inter-row spacing of 15 cm and seeding rates of 20 or 30 kg/ha. Inter-row spacing of 45 cm produced the lowest seed yield. At all inter-row spacing applications, increases in sowing rate increased the height of fruit setting but reduced the number of branches and number of fruits per plant and seed yield. Average fruit (pod) lengths varied from 10.7 cm to 132 cm and thousand-seed weight ranged from 14.9 g to 16.8 g. Keywords : Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.); seeding rates; height of fruit setting; fruit (pod) lengths