Rainwater Conservation Techniques with Integrated Phosphorus Management on Productivity of Pigeonpea under Dryland Conditions

Afield experiment was conducted on effect of in-situ rainwater conservation techniques with integrated phosphorous management on productivity of pigeonpea under dryland condition during the kharif season 2007–08 to 2011–12 to find out the effect of land configuration with different phosphorus sources on productivity of pigeonpea. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications. The treatment consisted of two land treatments viz., M₁: flat sowing with three hoeing at 3^rd, 5^th and 8^th weeks after sowing, M₂: flat sowing with one hoeing at 3^rd week and opening of ridges and furrows at 30 days after sowing with five integrated phosphorus sources viz., P₀: Control, P₁: 12.5 kg N/ha + 25 kg P₂O₅/ha (R.D.) through DAP + Rhizobium + PSB, P₂: 25 kg P₂O₅/ha through FYM + Rhizobium + PSB, P₃: 25 kg/ha P₂O₅ through SSP + Rhizobium + PSB, P₄: 25 kg P₂O₅/ha through Vermicompost + Rhizobium + PSB. Basal dose of nitrogen was adjusted through urea as per treatments details. The pooled results revealed that land treatment, flat sowing with one hoeing at 3^rd week and opening of ridges and furrows at 30 days after sowing gave significantly higher grain and stalk (754 and 3323 kg/ha) yield. Among the integrated phosphorus management, the application of 12.5 kg N/ha + 25 kg P₂O₅/ha through DAP + Rhizobium + PSB registered significantly higher grain and stalk (897 and 3409 kg/ha) yield. The similar trend was also noticed in case of soil available phosphorus and total P uptake by pigeonpea. The higher soil moisture (136 mm) was conserved in the treatment of flat sowing with one hoeing at 3^rd week and opening of ridges and furrow 30 days after sowing. Flat sowing + One hoeing + Opening of furrows at 30 DAS along with recommended dose of fertilizer 12.5:25 kg/ha N: P₂O₅ through DAP + Rhizobium + PSB recorded significantly higher benefit: cost ratio.