Productivity and Nutrient Uptake of Rabi Pigeon Pea [Cajanus cajan (L.)] under Varied Sowing Window, Plant Geometry and Residual Fertility after Rice in Coastal Odisha

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the rabi seasons for two consecutive years of 2018-19 and 2019-20 to study the influence of sowing window, planting geometry and residual soil fertility on yield and nutrient uptake of rabi pigeon pea on sandy loam soil of coastal Odisha. The experiment was conducted in a split-split plot design, grown after harvesting of kharif rice each year, consisting of two sowing windows in main plots, three residual effects of nutrient management in subplots and three row spacings in sub-sub plots. Pigeon pea sown during the 2nd fortnight of October (after harvest of 10th July planted rice) produced significantly higher seed (48.8, 40.3 % in both the years) and stalk yield (47.9, 37.3 % in both the years). The pooled data for both the years revealed that the nitrogen content of seed increased by 6.6 % while the N, P and K uptake in seed and stalk increased by 53.6, 49.6, 51.2, 60.8, 41.9 and 55.5%, respectively over the second sowing window (1st fortnight of November). The residual effect of nutrients applied to rice registered a significant effect in improving the yield and nutrient uptake and the highest yield and nutrient uptake in pigeon pea was observed in STBFR (Soil test based fertilizer recommendation) + FYM treated plot. The pigeon pea crop grown at 40 cm row spacing realized higher nitrogen content of 3.23, 1.11% while all other nutrients being at par. However, the nutrient uptake (N-50.28, P-6.24 and K-8.59 kg ha^-1) by seed and stalk (N-46.50, P-5.96, K-48.15 kg ha^-1) was higher under 30 cm row spacing. Interaction between sowing window and plant geometry were significant in influencing yield as well as N uptake indicating a higher amount of yield and nutrient uptake in early sowing with 30cm row spacing and STBFR+FYM.