Effect of drought mitigation strategies on yield attributes, yield, and economics of pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]

Abstract:

The field experiment was conducted during the Kharif season of 2017 at Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya, Chitrakoot, Satna (M.P). Effect of drought mitigation strategies on yield attributes, yield and economics of pigeon pea Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]. The trial was laid out in randomized block design with three replications.The results revealed that yield attributes viz., pods plant-1, number of seeds pod-1, pods length plant-1, Seed weight plant-1 and test weight were recorded significantly superior under Mulching with organic residues @ 5 t ha-1(66.60), Pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha-1at 45 DAS (4.17), FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha-1 + 2%KH2PO4 at spray at flowering + 2% KNO3 at Pod development (5.82), vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1+ Pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha-1 and FYM @ 5 t ha-1+ 2% KH2PO4 spray at Flowering + 2% KNO3 spray at PD stage (76.91), respectively. Biological, seed and straw yield of pigeon pea were recorded significantly higher under treatment of seed hardening with CaCl2 (2%)8433 kg ha-1. Pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha-1 + mulching with organic residues @ 5 t ha-1 recorded significantly superior seed yield of pigeon pea 1307 kg ha-1), which gave 1037 kg ha-1 (20.65%) higher over control and straw yield under Seed hardening with CaCl2 + Pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha-1 (7043 kg ha-1). However, the harvest index of pigeon pea was observed higher under Pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha-1 + mulching with organic residues @ 5 t ha-1(22.47). Gross returns and net monetary returns were noted significantly greater in Vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1+ Pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha-1 (₹ 91577) and Seed hardening with CaCl2 (₹ 62711 ha-1). However, the B: C ratio was found a maximum of (4.46) in the treatment of seed hardening with 2% CaCl2 and statistically equal with the treatment of pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha-1 at 45 DAS (4.10).