Effect of foliar application of water soluble fertilizer on growth and yield of Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp)

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of foliar application of water soluble fertilizer (WSF) on growth and yield of Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] during khar if 2012 at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, UAS, GKVK, Bengaluru. The experiment consisted of five concentrations of 19:19:19 water soluble fertilizer i.e. no foliar spray(control), 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1.0% at three stages of application (peak flowering, pod development and both at peak flowering and pod development). The experiment was laid out in RCBD with factorial concept with three replications. Significantly higher grain yield (1661 kg ha⁻¹) was recorded with foliar application of 1.0% 19:19:19 followed by 0.75% and 0.50% (1518 and 1454 kgha⁻¹ respectively). But there was no significant difference due to the stages of spray application. The higher yield with 1.0% WSF was associated with increased number of pods per plant (121.8), pod weight per plant (105.5 g), grain yield per plant (19.9 g), plant height, higher number of branches, leaf area and higher total dry matter production at harvest.