Effect of chemical and organic fertilizers on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) forage

In order to study the effect of different organic fertilizers on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of fenugreek forage, an experiment was conducted based on completely randomized block design with six treatments and three replications at Agricultural Research Station, College of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, during 2006. The experimental treatments were four organic fertilizers (40 t.ha-1 cow manure, 30 t.ha-1 sheep manure, 20 t.ha-1 hen manure, and 30 t.ha-1 compost), chemical fertilizer (250 kg.ha-1 ammonium phosphate + 100 kg.ha-1 urea) and control (no-fertilizer).The results showed that there were no significant differences between different fertilizer treatments in terms of all quantitative and qualitative characteristics. However, the highest fresh forage yield (5618 kg.ha-1) and dry forage yield were obtained in using chemical fertilizer treatment. The highest leaf dry matter and organic matter digestibility and the lowest stem dry matter and organic matter digestibilities were produced in hen manure treatment. Chemical fertilizer treatment produced the lowest leaf dry matter and organic matter digestibility and the highest stem dry matter and organic matter digestibility. Generally, within studied fertilizers, chemical fertilizer had relatively higher effect on quantitative studied criteria.