Pigeonpea [Cajanus Cajan (L.) Millspaugh] is a prime food legume crop mostly cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions. It was globally grown in about 85 million hectares. The Indian sub continent alone contributes nearly 92% of the total pigeonpea production globally. Our national production of 4.87 lakh tones is realized from an area of 5.33 lakh ha^-1 with low productivity of 913 kg ha^-1 in the world area. Madhya Pradesh is one of India’s important pigeonpea growing states, which accounts for nearly cultivated over 6.90 lakh ha^-1 area with a production of 7.81 lakh tones and productivity of 1133 kg ha^-1 (Anonymous, 2016-17). As a result, the per capita availability of pulses in India has declined from 64 g day^-1 (1951-56) to 47.20 g day^-1 (2015-16) as against FAO/WHO’s recommendation of 80 g day^-1 [2,12-14]. Thus there is a wide gap between the production and demand of pulses in the country. This crop has the privilege of occupying the first place both in area and production among kharif grown legumes.

Among the various stresses, drought is a common and detrimental constraint to crop yield in any globe area. Pigeonpea generally at the flowering and pod formation stages faces moisture stress condition (drought), which results in low and variable seed yield. This crop is prone to drought during its vegetative and reproductive stages due to its longer duration. Management practices are an important tool for drought mitigation and yield enhancement under moisture stress conditions. Cultural mulch or opening shallow furrows between two rows of pigeon pea conserve soil moisture in the clay loam soil of Andhra Pradesh [9, 15-17].

Super absorbent polymers (Hydrogel) caused improvement in crop growth by increasing water holding capacity in the soil and delaying the duration of wilting point in drought stress. It absorbs water 20 times more than its weight. When the polymer is mixed with soil, it forms an amorphous gelatinous mass on hydration. It is capable of absorption and desorption over a long time, hence acting as a slow-release source of water in the soil. The organic manures viz. FYM and Vermicompost play an important role in crop production. It acts on the soil physical, chemically and biologically in many beneficial ways. Physically organic matter promotes the formation of soil crumbs that make soil friable, facilitate the proper movement of air and water and absorb rainwater. Chemically organic manures add nutrients and organic compounds to the so while undergoing decomposition. Biologically organic manures provide good for the beneficial soil microorganism. Organic residues used as mulch check evaporation from the soil and keep moisture up to a longer period, protecting soil from erosion and weeds.

Materials and Methods

An experiment was conducted at Agriculture farm of Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya, Chitrakoot, Satna (M.P) during kharif season of 2017.The farm is situated under agro-climatic zone-Kymore Plateau of Northern Madhya Pradesh. Geographical Chitrakoot is situated between 25⁰ 10′ N latitude, 80⁰ 32′ E longitude and 190-210 meter above mean sea level. The soil of experimental field was sandy loam with neutral pH (7.71), low organic carbon (0.33%) and available nitrogen (157.5 kg ha^-1) and medium in available phosphorus (160 kg ha^-1) and available potassium (60.19 kg ha^-1). The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. There are ten treatments viz., 1. Seed hardening with CaCl₂ (2%), 2. Vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha^-1, 3. FYM @ 5 t ha^-1 + 2%  KH₂PO₄ spray at flowering + 2% KNO₃ spray at pod development stage, 4. Mulching with organic residues @ 5 t ha^-1, 5.Pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha^-1, 6. Seed hardening with CaCl₂ + Pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha^-1, 7. Vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha^-1 + Pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha^-1, 8. FYM @ 5 t ha^-1 + pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha^-1 + 2% KH₂PO₄ spray at flowering + 2% KNO₃ spray at pod development stage, 9. Pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha^-1 + Mulching with organic residues @ 5 t ha^-1, 10. Pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha^-1 at 45 DAS and 11. Control. The pigeon pea variety UPAS-120 was sown on 18 July, 2017 at a row to row and plant to plant spacing of 60 cm x 15 cm and seed @ 18 kg ha^-1. The recommended dose of fertilizers for pigeon pea was 20:60:30 kg N: P₂O₅: K₂O ha^-1, provided through DAP and muriate of potash as basal. Various drought mitigation treatments were applied as per the treatment. Before sowing, the required quantity of well decomposed FYM was applied and incorporated into the soil as per prescribed plots. All the other agronomic practices were done uniformly to all the treatments. All the observation of experiment was recorded as per standard procedure. The economics of experimental was evaluated as per prevailing prices of local market. The crop was harvested on 07, December 2017. The important parameters were recorded at appropriate time as per standard procedure. The economics of treatment was calculated as per prevailing market price of the area. The experimental data was statistically analysed by [5, 18-24].

Results and Discussion

Effect on yield attributes

              Yield attributes viz., pods plant^-1 was recorded significantly superior under Mulching treatment with organic residues @ 5 t ha^-1 (66.60) followed by Vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha^-1 + Pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha^-1 (65.20). Number of seeds pod^-1 was recorded numerically higher under treatment of Pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha^-1 at 45 DAS (4.17) followed by Pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha^-1 (3.77) and Seed hardening with CaCl₂ + pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha^-1 (3.67). Pods length plant^-1 was observed markedly higher under FYM @ 5 t ha^-1 + pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha^-1 + 2% KH₂PO₄ at Flowering + 2% KNO₃ at PD (5.82) followed by seed hardening with CaCl2 + pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha^-1 (5.75) and Vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha^-1 + pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha^-1 (5.70). Seed weight plant^-1 was recorded significantly higher under Pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha^-1 + mulching with organic residues @ 5 t ha^-1. However, test weight was marginally higher in FYM @  5 t ha^-1 + 2% KH₂PO₄ spray at Flowering + 2% KNO₃ spray at PD stage (76.91) followed by Vermicompost 2.5 t ha^-1 (75.19) and Seed hardening with CaCl₂ + pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha^-1. The higher yield attributes could be ascribed due to superior growth parameters of drought mitigation treatment. This might be due to the property of polymers to aggregate and stabilize soils, compact erosion, improve percolation and absorbing soil water. These findings agree with the results of various experiments conducted [6]. The findings of also supported that the potassium nitrate (KNO₃) increased the yield parameters [1].

Effect on yield

              Result showed that biological yield of pigeonpea was recorded significantly higher under treatment of seed hardening with CaCl₂ (8433 kg ha^-1) closely followed by Mulching with organic residues @ 5 t ha^-1 (7712 kg ha^-1). The drought mitigation treatment of Pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha^-1 + mulching with organic residues @ 5 t ha^-1 recoded significantly superior seed yield of pigeonpea (1307 kg ha^-1), which gave 1037 kg ha^-1 (20.65%) higher over control (Table 2). The straw yield was observed significantly higher with the Seed hardening with CaCl₂ + pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha^-1 (7043 kg ha^-1) and harvest index of pigeon pea was observed numerically higher under Pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha^-1 + mulching with organic residues @ 5 t ha^-1 (22.47) followed by Vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha^-1 + Pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha^-1 (20.11) and Pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha^-1 (19.87). This could be associated with higher value of yield attributes (Table 1). The possible reasons for treatments effect on seed yield are saving water and water soluble nutrients up to 40 to 60%. An increase in yield might be due to sufficient availability of water and indirectly nutrients supplied by the super absorbent polymer to the plants under water stress condition, which leads to better translocation of water, nutrients and photosynthesis and finally better plants stand and yield. Significant increase in seed yield were also be reported by [4]. The finding of  proved that the use of KNO₃ positively influences the seed yield [3]. Also found that the seed hardening with chemicals like CaCl₂ recoded higher growth and resulted in greater straw yield [7].

Effect of economics

A gross monetary return was significantly higher under the treatment of Vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha^-1 + pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha^-1 (₹ 91577). While, highest net monetary returns of ₹ 62711 ha^-1 was recorded under Seed hardening with CaCl₂. This could be associated with higher gross returns with lower cost of cultivation. In other words, these may be attributed to less increase in gross income than increase in cost under different drought mitigation treatments. Also confirms the findings of the experiment [10]. However, the B:C ratio was found maximum of (4.46) in treatment of seed hardening with 2% CaCl₂ and statistically equal with treatment of pusa hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha^-1 at 45 DAS (4.10) and remained treatments exhibited significantly lower benefit: cost ratio. It was because of comparatively least cost of cultivation with moderate gross returns. The findings if found that the seed hardening with CaCl₂ (2%) recorded highest benefit cost ratio [11].

Conclusion            

Thus, it can be concluded that the use of Pusa hydrogel 2.5 kg ha^-1with spary of KH₂PO₄ 2% at flower + KNO₃ 2% at pod development was found the best treatment for getting higher productivity and profitability under prevailing climatic and soil conditions of Eastern Madhya Pradesh.

Note: Get the tables from here…

REFERENCE

1. Anbu, S., Parthiban, S., Balakrishnan, K., Thangaraj, T. 2001. Introduction of off-season flowering in mango (Mangifera indica L.). South Indian Horticulture 49: 365-366.
2. Anonymous, 2016. Economic Survey. India Net Availability of food grans, Cereals and Pulses. Ministry of Finance, Government of India, A36.
3. Bharti, J. and Malik, C.P. 2013. Evalution of biochemical parameters in nitrate-haerdened of Indian mustard subjected to salt stress. Journal of Oilseed Brassica 4(1):11-18.
4. Gautam, S.K. 2017. Pusa hydrogel: a novel soil conditioner saves 40-60% Water & Nutrients in Farming.
5. Gomez, K.A. and Gomez, A.A. 1984. Statistical procedures for Agricultural Research. Edn. 2, John Wiley and Sons, New York.
6. Khadem, S.A., Galavi, M., Ramordi, M., Mousavi, S.R., Rousta, M.J., Rezvani, P. and Moghadam, 2010. Effect of animal manure and superabsorbent polymer on corn leaf relative water content, cell membrane stability and leaf chlorophyll content under dry condition. Australian Journal of Crop Science 4(8): 642-647.
7. Manjunath, B.L., Dhanoji, M.M. 2011. Effect of seed hardening with chemicals on drought tolrerance traits and yield chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Journal of Agriculture Science 3(3) 186-189.
8. Nene, Y.L. and Sheila, V.K. 1990. Pigeonpea: geography and importance, in: Nene, Y.L., Susan, D., Hall and Sheila, V.K. (eds) 1990, the pigeonpea. C.A.B. international ICRISAT, India, pp: 1-13.
9. Reddy, M., Malla, Padmaja, B. and Rao, J.L. 2009. Influence of drought management practices on growth and yield of pigeon pea. Indian Journal of Dryland Agricultural Research and Development 24(1): 63-66.
10. Reddy, S., Nedunzhiyan, M. and Nivedita, R. 1993. Performance of pigeonpea genotypes at different plant densities under late sown rainfed conditions of Royalseema.Indian Journal Pulse Research 6(2): 120-211.
11. Panda, P.K., Mahapatra, P.M. and Kar, A. 2017. Effect of drought mitigation strategies on yield and economics of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) in Odisha. Vayu Mandal 43(1):56-59.
12. Patil, B.C., Pawarm, K.N. and Babu, A.G. 2014. Studies on induction of drought tolerance by seed hardening in Bt cotton. Plant Archives 14(1):357-362.
13. RAO, P. V., REDDY, A. S., & Ramana, M. V. (2019). Effect of drought mitigation strategies on growth and productivity of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) under rainfed conditions. Journal of Crop and Weed, 15(3), 150-153.
14. Ahmed, N. A. E. E. M., & Ahmad, R. A. F. I. Q. (2016). Salt stress responses of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) on growth, yield and some biochemical attributes. Pak. J. Bot, 48(4), 1353-1360.
15. Lohot, V. D., Ghosh, J., Ghosal, S., Thamilarasi, K., & Gunjan, S. K. (2018). Effect of lac culture on seed quality traits of Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 6(2), 2293-2298.
16. Mathukia, R. K., Mathukia, P. R., & Polara, A. M. (2015). Effect of preparatory tillage and mulch on productivity of rainfed pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]. Indian Journal of Dryland Agricultural Research and Development, 30(2), 58-61.
17. Ware, B. P., Suryavanshi, V. P., & Dambale, A. S. (2018). Impact of topping and fertilizers levels on growth, yield and economics of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.). Journal of Agricultural Research and Technology, 43(2), 410-413.
18. Singh, D., & Abraham, T. (2017). Response of pigeonpea based intercropping system and weed management practices on growth, yield attributes and yield of pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]. Res. Environ. Life Sci, 10(7), 631-635.
19. Changaya, A. G. (2007). Development of high yielding pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) germplasm with resistance to Fusarium wilt (Fusarium udum) in Malawi (Doctoral dissertation).
20. Pandey, I. B., & Tiwari, S. (2017). Nutrient management for enhancing productivity of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) based intercropping system under rainfed condition. Indian Journal of Agronomy, 62(4), 451-457.
21. Yohane, E. N. (2020). Genetic improvement of pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) millspaugh] for yield, earliness and resistance to Fusarium wilt (Fusarium udum Butler) in Malawi (Doctoral dissertation).
22. Suman, S. H. R. U. T. I. (2014). Effect of weed management practices on growth & yield of Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan L. Millspaugh] (Doctoral dissertation, Bihar Agricultural University).
23. Zavinon, F., Adoukonou-Sagbadja, H., Ahoton, L., Vodouhe, R. S., & Ahanhanzo, C. (2018). Quantitative Analysis, Distribution and traditional management of pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] Landraces’ diversity in Southern Benin. European Scientific Journal.
24. Saxena, K. B. (2005). Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]. Genetic Resources, Chromosome Engineering, and Crop Improvement: Grain Legumes, 1, 85-110.
25. Kumar, N., Gopinath, K. A., Srivastva, A. K., & Mahajan, V. (2008). Performance of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) at different sowing dates in the mid-hills of Indian Himalaya. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 54(5), 507-514.