Higher levels of phosphorus affects production and productivity of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) under rainfed condition

A field experiment was carried out during rainy (kharif) season of 2015–16 and 2016–17 to study the effect of levels of phosphorus on production, productivity and profitability of pigeonpea under rainfed condition. Plant height (215.87 cm), branches per plant (17.06), pods length (5.41cm), pods/plant (188), grains/pod (4.33), 100 seed weight (11.37g), grain yield (12.20q/ha), stalk yield (45.6q/ha), harvest index (21.07%), net return (Rs70312.50) and benefit: cost ratio (3.51) were significantly higher at 60 kg P₂O₅/ha. Result revealed that P level 60kg/ha gave 58.44, 31.18 and 4.27 per cent higher grain yield and 68.91, 35.93 and 3.70 per cent higher net return, respectively as compared to application of phosphorus levels 28 kg/ha, 40 kg/ha and 50 kg/ha. The trend of phosphorus levels to pigeonpea showed that higher dose of phosphorus gave maximum production and profitability as compared to lower dose of phosphorus application (Singh et al 2012).