Agronomic fortification of zinc enhances the growth, yield and quality of different genotypes of Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) on swell-shrink soil

The field experiment entitled “Agronomic fortification of zinc enhances the growth, yield and quality of different genotypes of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) on swell – shrink soil” was conducted during Kharif season 2022-23 at Pigeon pea Breeding Field, Central Research Station, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola. The experiment was laid out in Split-Plot Design and fifteen treatments combination comprised of five main-plots (pigeon pea genotypes) and three sub-plots (zinc levels). The pigeon pea genotypes were AKTE 1905(G₁), AKTE 1904(G₂), AKTE 16-12(G₃), AKTE 19-01(G₄) and AKT 8811(G₅). The zinc levels were recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) (Z₀), RDF with soil application of Zn @ 5 kg Zn ha^-1 at the time of sowing (Z₁) and RDF with foliar spraying of ZnSO₄ @ 0.5% at branching and flowering stage (Z₂). The results of the present investigation in interaction between genotypes and zinc levels revealed that significantly highest seed yield (24.73 q ha^-1) of AKTE 1905 and straw yield 52.83(q ha^-1) of AKTE 16-12 was recorded in combination with the soil application of 5 kg Zn ha^-1 through ZnSO₄ at the time of sowing. The interaction between different genotypes and zinc levels on growth and quality parameters are non-significant.