Abstract

EFFECT OF RHIZOSPHERIC MEDIA ON GROWTH, YIELD AND BIOCHEMICAL STATUS OF A POTENT PHARMA- NUTRACEUTICAL T. FOENUMGRAECUM

Shalini Sharma* and Y. Vimala

ABSTRACT

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), a member of Fabaceae has been referred to as a medicinal herb both in Indian Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicines. Fenugreek contains three important chemical constituents with medicinal value: steroidal sapogenins, galactomannans and isoleucine thus its leaves and seeds have been used extensively for medicinal use. These constituents seem to work in a synergistic way to produce health effects and have placed Fenugreek among the most commonly recognized "Pharma-nutraceutical" or health food products. In recent years Fenugreek has attracted the attention of producers to meet manufacturing demands for "functional food" additives and Natural Health Products. By adopting environmental friendly traditional simple agronomic practices fenugreek with enhanced levels of chemical constituents improved seed yield and forage can be developed. T. foenumgraecum responds positively to addition of organic and inorganic fertilizers including farmyard manure, sewage, and/or kitchen waste compost. Interestingly in Pure Humus due to high water retention, Cation exchange capacity and high content of Organic Carbon, it led to increased Carbon fixation in plants in the form of enhanced yield (35.73% increase in Total Biomass and 112.90% increase in No. Of pods per branch) in comparison to control (2H:2S) grown plants. Addition of more of soil proved to be deleterious as more soil ratio added to rhizospheric media decreased the yield of fenugreek in the form of number of seeds (Decline of -93.42% in comparison to 2H:2S) as well as forage (total biomass).

Keywords: T. foenumgraecum, Rhizospheric media, Nutraceuticals, Manures, enhanced yield.