Improvement in Productivity of the Pigeon pea through Foliar Application of Pulse Magic in North Eastern Dry Zone of Karnataka, India

Abstract:

Pigeonpea is extensively grown in north-eastern dry zone of Karnataka and it occupies a unique position in every cropping system of this zone. Pigeon pea is most important pulse crop in Kalaburagi district of Karnataka. Crop Productivity of pigeonpea being low in the north-eastern dry zone of Karnataka and this is due to several reasons. One of the main important and major reasons is flower drop and poor drop setting. To reduce this problem and to enhance productivity of pigeonpea, the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Kalaburagi, Karnataka has carried out 100 Front Line Demonstrations (FLD) Kalaburagi district with use of Pulse Magic (consists of major and micro nutrients and Plant growth regulators) as foliar spray during kharif 2017-18 in rainfed condition in the farmers field under National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) and the majority of farmers were growing TS-3R variety. Foliar spray was carried out during 50 % flowering stage of the crop and 15 days after first Spray. The result indicated due to foliar spray of Pulse Magic were: higher number of pods per plant (283), seeds per pod (4.3), pod length (5.63 cm) and test weight (11.5 g), as compared to control (219, 3.5, 3.61 cm and 9.1 g, respectively). Pigeonpea, it can be concluded that higher seed yield (14.2 q ha-1), as compared to control (11.9 q ha-1) to the extent of 19.32 % can be obtained compared to control and it is due to improvement in yield attributes. Consequent upon higher yield, higher net returns ( . 60334 ha-1) were obtained in Pulse Magic sprayed plots compared to unsprayed plots ( . 50688 ha-1). Pulse magic is a combi product, released by university of agricultural sciences, Raichur as it contains major nutrients, micro nutrients and PGR which helped the crop to achieve maximum yield potential.