Effect of Drip Fertigation and Mulching on Yield Parameter and Water Productivity of Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.)

Abstract

Background: 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 input. Although the yield is very less as compare to the potential yield, so we need to increase the yield of pigeonpea using modern techniques such as drip fertigation and mulching. Both these techniques are resource saving and realized maximum yield as compare to conventional practices. Methods: The experiment was laid out in factorial complete randomized block design with three replications. 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. Result: The results revealed that the combination of higher level of irrigation with 100 per cent RDF and with plastic mulching recorded significantly higher seed yield, water productivity and B.C ratio compared to the rest of the treatment combination.