Yield Performance and Profitability of Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajana L.) Varieties under Different Nutrient Supply Levels in Dryland Alfisols of Karnataka

A field experiment was conducted at Dryland Agriculture Project, Bangalore to study the impact of graded levels of nutrients on yield, yield attributes, nutrient uptake and economic returns of pigeonpea [Cajanus cajana (L.) Millsp.] varieties during Kharif 2006 and 2007. In all fifteen nutrient levels were tested on ‘TTB-7’ and ‘BRG-2’ pigeonpea varieties. The treatment combinations were derived from four levels of N (0, 25, 37.5 and 50 kg/ha), four levels of P₂O₅ (0, 50, 75 and 100 kg/ha), four levels of K₂O (0, 25, 50 and 75 kg/ha) along with zinc (Zn) in the form of zinc sulphate (0 and 12.5 kg/ha) and sulphur (S) (0 and 10 kg/ha) as elemental sulphur. The results revealed significant increase in grain (1759 kg/ha) and stalk yield (6004 kg/ha) of pigeonpea with application of 50, 100 and 75 kg N, P₂O₅ and K₂O/ha along with common dose of Zn and S. The increase in grain yield was due to improvement in number of pods/plant, test weight and grain yield/plant. The nutrient uptake by grain and stalk was significantly higher with 50, 100 and 75 kg N, P₂O₅ and K₂O/ha along with Zn and S as compared to no application of respective nutrient. Higher yield potential of pigeonpea resulted in higher net income ( 25,518/ha) and B:C ratio (3.21) than other treatment combinations. Graded levels of nutrients for short duration dwarf varieties of pigeonpea can enhance yield, nutrient uptake and economic returns in Alfisols of Karnataka.