Influence of land configuration and weed management options on soil properties and nutrient uptake by pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.)

Experiment was carried-out during kharif season of 2020 at research farm of Indian Agricultural Research Institute-New Delhi in three times replicated split-plot design with three land configurations (main-plot) while, six weed management options (sub-plot) to assess the effect of these land configuration and weed management options on soil fertility and nutrient uptake by pigeonpea. Results showed that Broad bed and furrow planting recorded higher N, P and K content (3.19, 0.36, 1.24% and 1.22, 0.22, 1.83% in seed and stalk, respectively) and thereby enhanced their uptake (9.4, 19.6, 9.9% and 10.1, 16.5 and 23.2% in seed and stalk, respectively) over flatbed plating apart from contributing higher organic carbon (OC), available N, P and K in the soil. Among weed management options, two-hand weeding (30 and 60 DAS) recorded enhanced N, P and K uptake by seed and stalk; the increase being 61.3, 76.9, 49.3 and 49.3, 162.0, 65.8%, respectively and maintain higher OC, available N, P and K in soil over weedy-check. However, weed-free condition (twice hand weeding) fetched higher protein content and protein yield. Overall, pigeonpea grown on broad bed and furrow with two hand weeding proved better with respect to OC, available soil nutrients (N, P and K) and their uptake, protein yield as well as in soil microbial properties.