A.S. SHAH, K.P. PATEL, B.C. MISTRY, P.V. VEKARIYA, D.G. BHOYE AND R.U. RAVAL
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of various fertilizer treatments on the growth performance and yield of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek), a leguminous plant valued for its nutritional and medicinal properties. The primary research question was to determine which treatment - chemical fertilizers (CF), vermicompost (VC), biofertilizers (BF), nitrogen-fixing bacteria (NFB), or silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) - most significantly enhances growth parameters and yield under controlled conditions. The experiment involved applying each of the five treatments individually to fenugreek plants, along with an untreated control group. Key parameters including germination percentage, plant height, number of leaves, biomass accumulation, chlorophyll content, nodulation, and pod yield were recorded. Statistical analysis was conducted using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukeyâs HSD post hoc test to assess significance at p < 0.05. Silver nanoparticles led to the highest increase in plant height (38.2 ± 1.4 cm) and biomass yield (14.6 ± 0.7 g), followed by NFB and VC treatments. The NFB group showed a statistically significant improvement in nodulation and chlorophyll content (p = 0.003), indicating enhanced nitrogen fixation. Although CF promoted fast vegetative growth, it was less favorable in terms of soil sustainability. Bio-based fertilizers, particularly AgNPs and NFB, significantly improved fenugreek growth and yield, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers in legume cultivation.