Effect of foliar nutrition on yield, quality and economics of pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Mill sp.]

Abstract

Pigeonpea is the most important rainfed pulse crop of Karnataka. Yield of pigeonpea is decreasing due to flower drop and poor pod setting under vulnerable climatic situation. Field experiment was conducted to the study growth and yield of pigeonpea as influenced by nutrients and plant growth regulators. The experiment consisted of foliar application of two types of nutrients (19:19:19 and Pulse magic), two growth promoters (NAA, and N - Triacontanol) and their combinations at flowering and pod formation stages. The growth and yield attributes were varied significantly and RDF + foliar application of 1% pulse magic at flowering and pod formation stage recorded higher plant height (144.6 cm), number of branches (16.8 plant‑1), leaf area (3218 cm2 plant-1), total dry matter accumulation (135.5 g plant-1), absolute growth rate (0.812 g plant-1 day-1), crop growth rate (5.19 g m-2 day-1) and relative growth rate (0.010 g g-1 day-1) as compared to control (122.2 cm, 12.9, 2421 cm2 plant-1, 89.4 g plant-1, 0.633 g plant-1 day-1, 4.24 g m-2 day-1 and 0.007 g g-1 day-1, respectively) at harvest. Higher seed yield (1590 kg ha-1), stalk yield (4308 kg ha-1) and harvest index (0.26) recorded with the application of RDF + foliar application of 1% pulse magic at flowering and pod formation stage and lower seed yield, stalk yield and harvest index (1104 kg ha-1, 3416 kg ha-1 and 0.23, respectively) was recorded with control treatment.