Effect of drip fertigation on nutrient uptake and seed yield of pigeonpea [Cajanus Cajan (L.) Millsp.] under westeren agroclimatic zones of Tamil Nadu

Field experiments were conducted at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Coimbatore during August to February of 2011–12 and 2012–13 to study the effect of drip irrigation, fertigation levels and frequencies on seed yield and nutrient uptake of pigeonpea. Three fertilizer levels (75%, 100% and 125% recommended dose fertilizer (RDF) through water soluble fertilizer and conventional fertilizers), three irrigation levels (50% computed water requirement of crop (WRc), 75% WRc and 100% WRc) and surface irrigation (IW/CPE ratio 0.6 with 100 per cent RDF through conventional fertilizer) were included as treatments in this study. Application of 100 per cent of RDF (WSF) once in 7 days along with 100% WRc (T₉) recorded significantly higher uptake of total nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The lowest plant nutrient uptake was recorded by surface irrigation with application of 100% RDF (T₁₄) applied as basal. The results revealed that application of nutrients through fertigation once in seven days with 125% RDF (WSF) + irrigation 100% WRc recorded higher total nutrient uptake (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) than surface irrigation with conventional fertilizer.