Crop Research

An experiment was conducted during the semi-rabi season of 2010 to study the effect of planting geometry and phosphate management on growth and growth attributes of semi-rabi pigeonpea with split plot design. The treatments consisted of four planting geometry levels viz., S₁ (45 × 15 cm), S₂ (45 × 30 cm), S₃(60 × 15 cm), S₄ (60 × 30 cm) and four levels of phosphate management viz., P₁ (100% recommended dose of phosphate through fertilizer), P₂ (100% recommended dose of phosphate through fertilizer+PSB), P₃ (75% recommended dose of phosphate through fertilizer+PSB) and P₄ (50% recommended dose of phosphate through fertilizer+PSB). Results showed that all growth parameters viz., height of plant, number of branches/plant, number of leaves/plant, leaf area/plant, leaf area index and dry matter/plant (g) were significantly influenced due to spacing. The highest values of all growth characters were observed with the spacing of S₄ (60 × 30 cm), except plant height and leaf area index which were significantly influenced by the spacing of 45 × 15 cm and had the highest value. Days to 50% flowering was not influenced by the spacing. In case of phosphate management, all the growth characters viz., height of plant, number of branches/plant, number of leaves/plant, leaf area/plant, leaf area index and dry matter accumulation were significantly influenced due to application of phosphate levels and recorded highest with 100% RDP through fertilizer+PSB over any other. Days to 50% flowering was not influenced by phosphate management.