Response of Phosphorus levels and Bioinoculants on Yield Attributes, Yield, Nutrient Content and uptake of Long duration Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2008–09 and 2009–10 to study the response of phosphorus levels (control, 25, 50 and 75 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹) and bioinoculants (untreated control, PSB, PGPR and PSB + PGPR) on yield attributes viz. pod length (cm), pods plant⁻¹, pod weight plant⁻¹ (g), grains pod¹, 1000-grain weight (g), yield (q ha⁻¹), nutrient content (%) and uptake (kg ha⁻¹) of pigeonpea. The results showed that the application of 75 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ recorded the maximum yield attributes viz. pod length (cm), pods plant⁻¹, pod weight plant⁻¹ (g), grains pod⁻¹, 1000-grain weight (g), yield (q ha⁻¹) and it was significantly superior over 25 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ and control but, was at par with 50 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ during both the years of experimentation. Higher nutrient content and uptake were associated with 75 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ which was significantly superior over 25 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ and control but at par with 50 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ during both the years of experimentation. Amongst bioinoculants, dual inoculation of PSB + PGPR produced maximum yield attributes viz. pod length (cm), pods plant⁻¹, pod weight plant⁻¹ (g), grains pod⁻¹, 1000-grain weight, yield, nutrient content and uptake and found significantly superior over sole application of PGPR, PSB and control. Combined application of 75 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ + PSB + PGPR was found significantly superior over 25 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ + PSB + PGPR and control which was at par with 50 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ + PSB + PGPR during both years in respect of grains pod⁻¹, 1000-grain weight (g), grain yield (q ha¹) and phosphorus uptake (kg ha⁻¹) in grain.