Effect of different phosphorus levels on growth and productivity of field pea (Pisum sativum var. Arvense) cultivars in Agra region

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of phosphorus levels on growth and yield of field Pea (Pisum sativum var. Arvense) varieties at the research farm of Raja Balwant Singh College, Bichpuri, Agra. The soil of experimental field was alluvial with calcareous layer at the depth of about 1.5-2 m, well drained and deficient in available nitrogen, low in organic carbon, medium in available phosphorus and fairly rich in potash content and was slightly alkaline in reaction. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with four replication of three pea cultivars i.e. KPMR-400 (V1), Rachna (V2) and KPMR-522 (V3) and four levels of phosphorus viz. 0, 30, 60 and 90 kg P2O5 ha-1. Thus there were twelve treatment combinations in the study. The crop stand per running meter, plant height, number of primary branches per plant was obtained significantly higher with the variety KPMR-522 (V3) as compared to other varieties at most of stages of crop growth. Variety ‘Rachna’ (V2) gave higher dry matter accumulation. ‘Rachna’ (V2) variety produced significantly higher length of primary roots and number of nodules as compared to all other varieties. Variety ‘KPMR-522’ (V3) resulted in highest biological and grain yield and prove its superiority over all other varieties except (V1) Variety. Variety affected harvest index significantly and higher harvest index was obtained with ‘KPMR-400’ (V1) as compared to all other varieties. Application of 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 Produced maximum number of branches per plant and dry matter accumulation. Primary root length was found significantly superior with the application of phosphorus @ 60 kg P2O5 ha-1. Effective nodules per plant was recorded superior with the application of phosphorus @ 90 kg P2O5 ha-1 and most similar result with 60 kg P2O5 ha-1. Exactly same order of significance i.e. P3 (90 kg), P2 (60 kg), P1 (30 kg) and P0 (no phosphorus) P2O5 was noticed for grain yield (q ha-1), Stover yield (q ha-1), Biological yield (q ha-1), shelling percent and harvest index. Maximum grain yield (18.69 q ha-1) application of P 90 kg P2O5 ha-1, biological yield (68.02 q ha-1) recorded with the application of P2 (60 kg P2O5 ha-1) and Stover yield (52.05 q ha-1) with P1 (30kg P2O5 ha-1), non-significant shelling percent (74.14%) and significant harvest index (28.97%) was associated with the application of P3 (90 kg P2O5 ha-1).