Evaluation of Fenugreek for Forage and Seed Yield Potential In Wyoming.

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is a valuable specialty crop of the Fabaceae family which is used both as an herb and as a spice.  Fenugreek has potential to be used as animal feed.  The objective of this study is to evaluate 13 promising genotypes/accessions (treatments) of fenugreek in two varying Wyoming environments for adaptability and stability for growth, seed yield, and quality.  Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replicates and seeded in late spring of 2010 at two locations: Lingle (irrigated and dryland) and Laramie (irrigated).  The crop was seeded at the rate of 27 kg pure live seed ha^-1.  For forage yield, plots were mechanically harvested in late August-early September, 2010.  The seeds were harvested using a combine in mid October, 2010.  Initial results showed that at Lingle, fenugreek line F80 produced the highest dry matter (DM) yield (2380 kg ha^-1) while the line IT (Indu) produced the lowest DM yield (1060 kg ha^-1) under irrigated conditions.  In contrast, Indu produced the highest DM yield (820 kg ha^-1) under dryland conditions.  Dry matter yield variations were also observed at the Laramie site under irrigated conditions with the highest yield (1550 kg ha^-1) from line F96.  Similarly, large variations were also observed for seed yield under irrigated (range 820-2260 kg ha^-1) and dryland conditions (range 60-390 kg ha^-1) at Lingle and under irrigated conditions at Laramie (range 25-580 kg ha^-1).  On average, seed yield produced under irrigated conditions were higher than those produced under dryland conditions.  The highest seed yield (2260 kg ha^-1) was obtained from line F96 under irrigation at Lingle.  Forage quality was in the acceptable range at both locations, for example, the range of crude protein was 140 to 200 g kg^-1.  Results will be discussed in details in the presentation.