Evaluation of yield and yield components of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) under organic and chemical fertilizers

In order to investigate the response of yield and yield components of two medicinal plants i.e, fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) to chemical fertilizer and organic manure, a factorial experiment was conducted in two sequential years in a randomized complete blocks design at the research farm, College of Agriculture, Shahrekord University, in 2014 and 2015. The factors consisted of two species of medicinal plants (fenugreek (legume) and buckwheat (non-legume)) and three different sources of fertilizer (chemical fertilizer, chemical fertilizer organic manure and organic manure). The results indicated that application of organic manure compared to chemical fertilizer in buckwheat significantly increased plant height (17.76%) and branches/plant (8%) in 2014, seeds/spike(28 and 19.53% in 2014 and 2015, respectively), seed yield (40.24 and 26.57% in 2014 and 2015, respectively), and biological yield (34.66 and 47.74% in the 2014 and 2015, respectively). Aapplication of organic manure compared to chemical fertilizer increased branches/plant (8%) and biological yield (25%) of fenugreek in 2014. Additionally, combination of organic manure with chemical fertilizer (50:50) compared to chemical fertilizer in the buckwheat significantly increased plant height (10.35%, in the 2015), seed yield (52.21 and 17.19% in 2014 and 2015, respectively), biological yield (24.86 and 26.35% in 2014 and 2015, respectively) and harvest index (21.53%, in 2014). Integrated fertilizer compared to chemical fertilizer increased branches plant -1 (16.70%, in 2014) and seed yield (14.40%, in 2015) in fenugreek. Finally, organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer organic manure could be a suitable alternative for chemical fertilizer in cultivation of medicinal plant buckwheat (non-legume), but replacement of organic fertilizer in production of fenugreek may increase biological yield compared to chemical fertilizer.