Influence of Pre-sowing Seed Treatments and Growing Media on Performance of Consecutive Sowing for Constant Production of Fenugreek Microgreens (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) under Shade Net

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth Dapoli, Dist. Ratnagiri, State-Maharashtra, India in 2023-24. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with factorial arrangement having eight treatment combinations and three replications. Factor A comprised two pre-sowing seed treatments: W1: Water soaking of seed and W2: without soaking, while, Factor B included four growing media: M1: Soil + FYM (3:1), M2: Coarse Sand, M3: Cocopeat and M4: Soil + Cocopeat (1:1). The data recorded during investigation revealed that the pre-sowing seed treatments and media influenced the growth and yield parameters of fenugreek microgreens. Among two pre-sowing seed treatments, W1 (Water soaking) had superior effect on all growth and yield parameters compared to W2 (Without soaking). Among various growing media M4-Soil + Cocopeat (1:1) found superior in some growth parameters like, days for germination (avg. 3.39), yield (avg. 678.20 g/m2) and maximum number of cycles (avg.13.46). The treatment combination W1M4-[ Water soaking of seed + Soil + Cocopeat (1:1)] performed better in terms of days to germination (avg. 2.88), days required for harvest (8.33), yield (avg. 1505.57 g/m2), number of cycles (avg. 15) in 6 months.