Nutrient management approach to improve productivity and profitability of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) in north east hill zones of India

SARMISTHA  SARKAR; BIMAN  DE; PARTHA  DAS; DEBASREE  SAHA; DURGA PRASAD  AWASTHI; NILADRI  PAUL; DEBASHISH  SEN

doi:10.56093/ijas.v95i4.151803

Authors

SARMISTHA SARKAR College of Agriculture, Lembucherra, Tripura 799 210, India
BIMAN DE College of Agriculture, Lembucherra, Tripura 799 210, India
PARTHA DAS College of Agriculture, Lembucherra, Tripura 799 210, India
DEBASREE SAHA College of Agriculture, Lembucherra, Tripura 799 210, India
DURGA PRASAD AWASTHI College of Agriculture, Lembucherra, Tripura 799 210, India
NILADRI PAUL College of Agriculture, Lembucherra, Tripura 799 210, India
DEBASHISH SEN College of Agriculture, Lembucherra, Tripura 799 210, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v95i4.151803

Keywords:

Economics, North-eastern, Nutrient management, Nutrient uptake, Pigeonpea, Yield

Abstract

The low yields of pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp] in the valleys of north eastern hill zones may be attributed to inadequate, unbalanced fertilization practices, and costly synthetic fertilizers application. These factors have had a negative impact on productivity, sustainability and soil health. The study was carried out during rainy (kharif) seasons 2022 and 2023 at the College of Agriculture, Lembucherra, West Tripura, Tripura to investigate effectiveness of organic matter in improving soil fertility while lowering reliance on synthetic fertilizers. A study was designed with eight treatments, viz. T₁, 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) @20:60:40 kg/ha; T₂, 50% RDF + phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) @30 kg/ha; T₃, 50% RDF + PSB @30kg/ha + Trichoderma @2.5 kg/ha; T₄, 50% RDF + PSB @30 kg/ha + vermicompost (VC) @2.5 t/ha; T₅, 50% RDF + PSB @30 kg/ha + Trichoderma @2.5 kg/ha + VC @2.5 t/ha; T₆, 50% RDF + PSB @30 kg/ha + VC @5 t/ha; T₇, 50% RDF + PSB @30 kg/ha + Trichoderma @2.5 kg/ha + VC @5 t/ha; T₈, Control (farmers practice). The pigeon pea variety chosen for this study was PA- The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) in three replications. Results indicated that applying vermicompost @5 t/ha and phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria @30 kg/ha markedly increased number of nodules (17.38) and leaf area index (5.54) at 90 and 120 days after sowing, respectively, with highest seed yield (1.90 t/ha) and stover yield (7.93 t/ha), when 50% of recommended doses had been replaced. Nutrient uptake, soil availability and microbial populations also showed the same trends. The greatest net return (80.43 × 10³ ₹/ha) in the mentioned treatment also proves its economic viability. Hence, north-eastern hill farmers must adopt vermicompost and biofertilizers to substitute costly fertilizers for a higher return, while preserving soil health for future generations.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ahamad A, Kumar N and Yadav D. 2017. Integrated nutrient management in pigeonpea-based intercropping systems. Indian Journal of Agronomy 62(4): 125–30.

Almeida D D O, Filho O K, Almeida H C, Gebler L and Felipe A F. 2011. Soil microbial biomass under mulch types in an integrated apple orchard from Southern Brazil. Scientia Agricola 68: 217–22.

Babu S, Rana D S, Yadav G S and Singh R. 2014. Growth, yield, quality, and nutrient content of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) as influenced by sunflower stover and nutrient management under pigeonpea-sunflower (Helianthus Annuus) cropping system. African Journal of Agricultural Research 9(49): 3559–70.

Bhadana V P, Sharma P K, Ansari M A, Baishya L K, Punitha P, Datt S, Prakash N and Rana K S. 2013. Food legumes for livelihood and nutritional security in north eastern Himalayan region: Prospects and constraints. The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 83(9): 899–906.

Cai F, Chen W, Wei Z, Pang G, Li R, Ran W and Shen Q. 2015. Colonization of Trichoderma harzianum strain SQR-T037 on tomato roots and its relationship to plant growth, nutrient availability and soil microflora. Plant and Soil 388: 337–50.

Carter M R. 1986. Microbial biomass as an index for tillage- induced changes in soil biological properties. Soil and Tillage Research 7: 29–40.

Das A, Baiswar P, Patel D P, Munda G C, Ghosh P K and Chandra

S. 2010. Productivity, nutrient harvest index, nutrient balance sheet and economics of lowland rice (Oryza sativa) as influenced by composts made from locally available plant biomass. The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 80(8): 686–90.

De B, Das P, Awasthi D P, Thangjam B, Das B and Hazari S. 2023. Identifying a viable agro-technique to improve productivity of medium-duration pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) in north-eastern hills zones of India. Indian Journal of Agronomy 68(1): 37–43.

De B, Giri U, Das P, Hazari S, Awasthi D P, Thangjam B C and Sen D. 2020. Integrated resource management impact on productivity of pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] in hilly tracts of Tripura, India. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Biotechnology 13(4): 475–82.

De B, Ray S, Das P and Hazari S. 2019. Studies on integrated agro- techniques approaches for yield maximization of pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] in mid-hills of Tripura, India. Legume Research-International Journal 42(3): 354–59.

Dua V K, Govindakrishnan P M, Lal S S and Khurana S P. 2007. Partial factor productivity of nitrogen in potato. Better Crops 91(4): 26–27.

Hanway J J and Heidel H H. 1952. Soil analysis methods as used in Iowa State College, soil testing laboratory. Iowa State College Bull 57: 1–31.

Khan M R, Khan S M and Mohiddin F A. 2004. Biological control of Fusarium wilt of chickpea through seed treatment with the commercial formulation of Trichoderma harzianum and/ or Pseudomonas fluorescens. Phytopathologia Mediterranea 43: 20–25.

Khan M R, Mohiddin F A, Khan S M and Khan B. 2005. Effect of seed treatment with certain biopesticides on root-knot of chickpea. Nematologia Mediterranea 33: 107–12.

Koenig R and Johnson C. 1942. Colorimetric determination of phosphorus in biological materials. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Analytical Edition 14(2): 155–56.

Kulkarni S, Narayana R K, Ravi M V and Swamy M. 2020. Effect on soil biological properties as influenced by different nutrient management approaches under pigeonpea cultivation in vertisol. International Journal of Chemical Studies 8(1): 1052–54.

Kumar R J V D K. 1990. Pigeonpea nitrogen fixation. The Pigeonpea, pp. 233–56. Y L Nene, S D Hall and V K Sheila (Eds). CAB International, Wallingford, UK.

Kumawat N, Singh R P, Kumar R, Yadav T P and Om H. 2015. Effect of integrated nutrient management on productivity, nutrient uptake and economics of rainfed pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) and blackgram (Vigna mungo) intercropping system. The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 85(2): 171–76.

Olsen S R, Cole C V, Watanabe F S and Dean L A. 1954. Estimation of Available Phosphorus in Soils by Extraction with Sodium Bicarbonate, pp. 939. United States Department of Agriculture, Washington.

Pandey I B, Pandey R K and Kumar R. 2015. Integrated nutrient management for enhancing productivity and profitability of long-duration pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) under rainfed condition. Indian Journal of Agronomy 60(3): 436–42.

Rana K S, Choudhary A K, Sepat S, Bana R S and Dass A. 2014. Methodological and Analytical Agronomy, pp. 276. Post Graduate School, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, India. Reddy A, Babu J S, Reddy M, Khan M M and Rao M M. 2011. Integrated nutrient management in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajana).

International Journal of Applied Biology and Pharmaceutical Technology 2(2): 467–70.

Sharma A, Pandit S R, Dharmaraj P S and Mohan C. 2012. Response of pigeonpea to biofertilizers in pigeonpea based intercropping systems under rainfed conditions. Karnataka Journal of Agricultural Sciences 25(3): 322–25.

Sharma M P, Bal S V and Gupta D K. 2000. Crop yield and properties of inceptisol as influenced by residue management under rice-wheat cropping sequence. Journal of the Indian Society of Soil Science 48(3): 506–09.

Sharma P, Singh G and Singh R P. 2011. Conservation tillage, optimal water and organic nutrient supply enhance soil microbial activities during wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivation. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology 42: 531–42.

Shivran D R and Ahlawat I P S. 2000. Effect of cropping systems and fertilizers on pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) in pigeonpea-wheat sequence. Indian Journal of Agronomy 45(4): 669–75.

Singh M, Lakpale R and Chandrakar D K. 2017. Nutrient uptake pattern of pigeonpea as influenced by pigeonpea + blackgram and integrated nutrient management. Plant Archives 17(2): 1157–60.

Singh R S. 2007. Integrated weed management in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan). Environment and Ecology 25S (Special 3A): 780–82.

Subbiah B V and Asija G L. 1956. A rapid procedure for the determination of available nitrogen in soils. Current Science 25: 259–60.

Tolanur S I and Badanur V P. 2003. Changes in organic carbon, available N, P and K under integrated use of organic manure, green manure and fertilizer on sustaining productivity of pearl millet-pigeonpea system and fertility of an inceptisol. Journal of the Indian Society of Soil Science 51(1): 37–41.

Verma S, Singh A, Pradhan S S, Singh J P and Verma S K. 2018. Effects of organic formulations and synthetic fertilizer on the performance of pigeonpea in eastern region of Uttar Pradesh. Bangladesh Journal of Botany 47(3): 467–71.