Exploration of the system of pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] intensification under different planting geometry and nutrient management conditions
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Date
2021-01
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G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during Kharif seasons of 2018-19 and 2019-20 at N. E. Borlaug Crop Research Centre of Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar (Uttarakhand) to study the “System of Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] Intensification under Different Planting Geometry and Nutrient Management Conditions”. The study aimed at assessing the effect of transplanted pigeonpea on system productivity, soil properties, nutritional quality, and its economic viability. The soil of the experimental site was silty clay loam in texture being low in available nitrogen (256.2 and 261.5 kg/ha), high in available phosphorus (26.1 and 25.3 kg/ha), low in available potassium (149.6 and 153.3 kg/ha), and high in organic carbon (0.80 and 0.87 %) with a neutral soil reaction (pH 7.24 and 7.49) during the two years of study. The experiment was laid out in Split Plot Design with three replications having four planting methods as the main plot treatments viz; Conventional Sowing at 60 x 20 cm, Transplanting at 60 x 20 cm, 90 x 40 cm and 90 x 60 cm, and three nutrient management practices as Sub plot treatments viz; 100 % RDF (12:32:16 NPK fertilizer @ 150 kg ha-1), Vermicompost at 5 ton ha-1 and 50% RDF + Vermicompost at 2.5 ton ha-1. The growth parameters viz. number of trifoliate leaves, number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, leaf area, leaf area index, dry matter accumulation, CGR, RGR, nodule number and weight per plant were highest in transplanting at 90 x 60 cm treatment, while the plant height was highest in transplanting at 60 x 20 cm spacing. The yield attributes were also found to be the maximum under 90 x 60 cm transplanting. Transplanting at 90 x 40 cm recorded the highest grain yield during both the years due to relatively higher plant population per unit area. The grain yield was 32.6 and 34.7 % higher over that of the Conventional Sowing at 60 x 20 cm during 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively. The light transmission ratio (%) was lowest in Transplanting at 90 x 60 cm indicating a flourishing development of plant canopy. The soil nutrient status, enzymatic activity and microbial activity were highest for Transplanting at 90 x 60 cm. The integrated nutrient management practice i.e. 50% RDF + Vermicompost at 2.5 ton ha-1 resulted in significantly higher growth, yield attributes and yields compared to 100% RDF. The combination of inorganic and organic sources led to significantly better nodulation, dehydrogenase and phosphatase activities producing significantly higher microbial population along with higher nutrient status of soil, and nutrient and protein contents in grain during both the years. The maximum gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio were obtained in case of Transplanting at 90 x 40 cm spacing. Among the nutrient management practices, the gross returns and net returns were highest with 50% RDF + Vermicompost at 2.5 ton ha-1 but the B:C ratio was maximum with 100% RDF. Thus for sustained productivity of pigeon pea, it can be transplanted at 90 x 40 cm spacing and for nutrient application integration of 50% RDF + Vermicompost at 2.5 ton ha-1 could be taken as the most promising practices for System of Pigeonpea Intensification.