Influence of reduced nutrient levels on productivity, profitability and resource use efficiency of rainfed pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) under resource-conservation practices

Rising cost of fuel and availability of effective package of practices for conservation tillage have now redefined the tillage practices in India in recent past. Hence an experiment was carried out with pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] with an objective of minimizing the inputs originating from non-renewable energy resources like fertilizer and diesel on a permanent site with 5 main-plot treatments, viz. zero-till (ZT) flat bed (FB) and zero-till (ZT) raised-bed (RB), in that with or without residue retention and conventional tillage (CT) practice, subplots with reduced recommended fertilizer dose (RDF). Resource-conservation practice of ZT-RB with crop-residue retention (CRR) along with 100% RDF recorded higher soil-moisture content at all the growth stages than the other practices, which helped plant to produce higher growth characters and SPAD readings and these in turn increased yield parameters like pods, seed weight/plant. Finally, seed yield (1.29 t/ha) and straw yield (4.61 t/ha) were significantly higher in ZT-RB with CRR than the other practices. Energy and economics showed that the ZT-RB with CRR along with RDF incured lower input energy and cost of cultivation. The gross (73,104/ha) and net returns (49,992/ha) and seed output energy (19,612 MJ/ha) were higher in ZT-RB with CRR along with 100% RDF, but remained at par with 75 and 50% RDF. Looking at sustainable yield index, energetic and economics in resourceconservation practice of ZT-RB with CRR, the nutrient requirement can be reduced up to 50% RDF.