Vol. 10, Issue 12 (2021)

Author(s):
SC Wadile, NM Jadhav, YJ Patil and SS Chitodkar

Abstract:
The present investigation entitled “Response of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) to topping times and potassium levels” was under taken at Department of Agronomy farm, College of Agriculture, Dhule (MS) during kharif season of 2017 to find out suitable topping times and potassium levels for pigeon pea. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. The treatments comprised of four topping times viz., no topping (T₁), topping at 30 DAS (T₂), topping at 45 DAS (T₃) and topping at 60 DAS (T₄) and four potassium levels viz. 00 kg K₂O ha-^-1 (P₁), 20 kg K₂O ha-^-1 (P₂), 30 kg K₂O ha-^-1 (P₃) and 40 kg K₂O ha^-1(P₄) were tried under study. The soil of experimental field was well drained, clayey in texture, low in available nitrogen (160 kg ha^-1), moderately low in available phosphorus (15.50 kg ha^-1), rich in available potassium (355 kg ha^-1). The crop was sown on 26^th June 2017 by dibbling method. The full dose of P₂O₅ and N was given at the time of sowing and different levels of K₂O were given to different plots as per treatments. The different growth characters were affected significantly due to topping times. The treatment no topping (T₁) recorded significantly higher plant height (122.85 cm). The treatment topping at 45 DAS (T₃) recorded significantly maximum number of primary branches plant-¹(15.25) and secondary branches plant-^-1 (20.03). The yield attributing characters like number of pods plant-^-1 (394.42), weight of pods plant-¹(161.67 g), and weight of 100 seeds (11.55 g) was recorded higher in treatment topping at 45 DAS (T₃) which was significantly more than other treatments. The highest seed yield (17.16q ha^-1) was also obtained from the treatment topping at 45 DAS (T₃). Similarly, recorded highest gross (97907 ha^-1) and net returns (56089 ha^-1) as well as Benefit cost ratio (2.34).