Influence of different levels of drip fertigation and mulching on growth, yield, water productivity and nutrient uptake of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.)

Pigeonpea is second most important pulse crop grown after chickpea in India. Pigeonpea is versatile crop can be grown in vast agro climatic condition with low inputs. However, the yield is very low as compared to the potential yield as grown in rainfed condition, the drip fertigation and mulching can increase resource use efficiency. Both these techniques are resource saving and realized maximum yield by reducing the nutrient and water losses as compared to conventional practices.

The experiment was laid out in factorial complete randomized block design and replicated thrice. The experiment consisted of two levels of irrigation (0.50 CPE and 0.75 CPE) as one factor and three fertility levels (100% RDF, 75% RDF and 50% RDF) as second factor and two levels of mulching (without mulching and with plastic mulching 25 micron) as third factor.

The results revealed that higher level of irrigation (0.75 CPE) with 100 per cent RDF and with plastic mulching recorded significantly higher growth rate, seed yield and uptake of nutrients by the pigeonpea crop.