Spices and Condiments (1+1)

Manures and fertilisers

• FYM or compost @ 10-15 t/ha should be added to the soil at the time of land preparation. The recommendation and methods/time of application of inorganic fertilisers differs from place to place. The recommended fertiliser doses are 25:25:50 or 40:60:20 or 50:25:40 or 40:40:0 kg/ha of NPK. At the time of sowing, the entire dose of NPK or NP is drilled in the soil, or half the quantity of N along with the entire quantity of P and K are applied basally and the remaining part of N is applied 30 days after sowing as a top dressing.
• The quantity of N may be reduced if the soil fertility is high. Two foliar sprays of urea (1%) at about 45 and 60 days after sowing gives a better economic green-leaf yield as well as seed yield per unit area. One can take 2 leaf cuttings before leaving the crop for seed harvest.
• A crop of fenugreek yielding 1 t/ha of seeds will absorb NPK in the ratio of 2:1:2. The uptake of nutrients like Ca, Fe and Zn is also fairly high compared to other elements. In order to support sustainable, high and profitable yields, not only N but Zn should also be included in the fertiliser schedule.