Field Evaluation of Salt Stress and Fertilization Effects (Organic and Inorganic) on Seed Yield, Proximate Seed Composition, Seed Elemental Composition and Protein Content in Fenugreek

The chemical quality of fenugreek seeds is a critical factor influencing their nutritional value, medicinal properties, and suitability for agricultural and industrial applications, making it essential to evaluate their biochemical composition and functional potential. This study evaluated the effects of salinity and different fertilization types on seed quality, early growth parameters, and key biochemical characteristics during fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) cultivation. A field experiment was established at the Agricultural University of Athens during the cropping period 2019–2020 (Year A) and 2020–2021 (Year B) in a split-plot design with the five main fertilization treatments Biocyclic-Vegan Humus Soil (BVH), Farmyard Manure (FM), Organic Compost (OC), Inorganic Fertilizer (IF; 11-14-14), and No Treatment Control (NTC) and two treatments: Elevated Salinity (ES) and Normal Salinity (NS). Fertilization significantly influenced various agronomic traits and seed compositions across both experimental years. The evaluation showed that organic fertilization with BVH yielded the best results among the treatments studied. The BVH × NS treatment consistently produced the highest plant height, seed protein content, seed yield, and mineral content, including nitrogen, calcium, and potassium, compared to the other treatments. ES impacted the concentrations of several elements, namely N (%), Ca (g/100 g), K (g/100 g), Fe (ppm), P (%), and Mg (g/100 g). Salinity also affected certain traits, such as Seed Total Ash and Dry Matter content, with significant interactions observed. These findings highlight the critical role of fertilization, especially organic fertilization, in improving both agronomic performance and seed nutritional quality in the studied crops, as well as in mitigating the adverse effects of salinity.