Effect of Different Stages of Pinching on Growth and Yield of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)

Abstract

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is a multipurpose leguminous crop valued as a spice, leafy vegetable, and medicinal plant, known for its rich nutritional composition and significant nutraceutical and pharmaceutical properties. Its growth, yield, and quality are highly influenced by agronomic practices such as sowing time and pinching, which regulate plant development and source–sink relationships. The experiment was conducted at the Spices Research Sub-Centre, Faridpur, during the rabi season of 2023–2024 to evaluate the effects of different stages of pinching on the growth and yield of fenugreek. The study was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications to ensure statistical reliability of the results. The findings demonstrated that different stages of pinching exerted a positive influence on all the growth and yield parameters studied. Observations on plant height, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, pod length, and number of seeds per pod were recorded at various intervals after sowing. In addition, data on 1000-seed weight and overall seed yield were collected at the time of harvest. Highest yield (3222.1 kg/ha) was found from plant pinching at 35 days after sowing and the lowest yield (2494.7 kg/ha) was obtained from no pinching treatment. Almost all parameters showed better result when plants were pinched at 35 days after sowing than plants pinched at 25 and 45 days after sowing and no pinching. These findings suggest that pinching at 35 days after sowing is the most effective stage for optimizing growth and maximizing yield of fenugreek under the given agro-climatic conditions.