Performance evaluation of improved cultivars of pigeonpea under cluster front line demonstration in changing climatic condition of Samastipur District, Bihar

A study was conducted for two years using P-9 and NDA-1, new cultivars of pigeonpea, in an area of 20 and 10 ha for 50 & 25 clusters, respectively with the objective to demonstrate the potential of improved technologies for pulse production. The improved technologies consist of modern varieties, seed treatment with Bavistin/Rhizobium, balanced fertilizer application and integrated pest management. These Cluster Frontline Demonstration (CFLD) studies recorded higher average grain yield (17.49 and 16.43 q/ha) as compared to average yield obtained from farmer's practice (10.20 and 11.45 q/ha) which computed to increase in yield by 41.68% and 30.31% during the years under observation, respectively. The technology gap (q/ha), extension gap (q/ha) and technology index (%) were 2.51, 7.29 and 12.55 during 2016–17 and 3.75, 4.98 and 17.85 in 2017–18 respectively. The significant increase in yield is attributed to introduction of new varieties in cluster mode. This mode facilitated better crop management resulting in better crop production.