Combined effect of phosphorus, sulphur and biofertilizers on plant development, yield attributes, production and quality of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp)

Pulses are considered as life blood of Indian Agriculture because of their unique position in every known systems of farming. Among the pulses, pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh) is the second most important pulse crop of this country after chickpea. The importance of adequate supply of phosphorus for higher yields of pigeon pea has long been recognized and intensive cropping and use of sulphur free high analysis fertilizers have resulted in wide spread deficiency of sulphur which made it to come up as a mandatory nutrient combining synergistically with phosphorus. Rhizobia (soil bacteria) has the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in symbiotic association with legumes, also some heterotrophic microorganisms are known to have ability to solubilize fix or phosphorus from insoluble sources. Keeping that in mind a field experiment was carried out during the Kharif season of 2020 and 2021 at the Agriculture Farm of Shri Durga Ji Post Graduate College Chandeshwar, Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, India. Thirteen treatments were applied in randomized block design replicated three times. The treatments under investigation were in combination of two doses of phosphorus (30 & 60 kg ha-1) and sulphur (15 & 30 kg ha-1), and bio-fertilizers viz., Rhizobium, and PSB applied singly as well as in combination including control. Variety Bahar was sown in second fortnight of June in both the years. The data revealed that plant height was increased gradually with the advances of plant growth stages and a considerable change in the number of branches per plant was also observed in pigeon peas at different phases of developmental stages which was altered by varying amounts of phosphorus and sulfur when treated with biofertilizer. The rates of phosphorus, and sulfur together with biofertilizers have a major impact on grain yield and other yield attributing characters. Maximum grain yield (16.68 q ha-1) and stalk yield (53.22 q ha-1) was recorded in plants treated with 60 kg P2O5 ha-1, 15 kg S ha-1 and combined inoculation of Rhizobium + PSB, which.. Maximum protein content in grains (21.13%) was also observed in the same treatment.