Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield and economics performance of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.)

The present field experiment was conducted during the kharif season of 2024 at the Agronomy farm, College of Agriculture, Dhule, Maharashtra. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with thirteen treatments and replicated three time. There were thirteen treatments viz., (T₁)- Absolute control (No fertilizer), (T₂)- RDF (25 N: 50 P₂O₅: 0 K₂O) kg ha^-1, (T₃) - GRDF (25 N: 50 P₂O₅: 0 K₂O kg ha^-1+ FYM 5 t ha^-1), (T₄)- 75% GRDF + Soil application of Multi- micronutrient Grade I @ 25 kg ha^-1, (T₅)- 75% GRDF + Two foliar sprays of Phule Liquid Micro Grade II @ 1% at flowering and pod filling stage, (T₆)- 75% GRDF + Soil application of Multi- micronutrient Grade I @ 25 kg ha^-1 + Two foliar sprays of Phule Liquid Micro Grade II @ 1% at flowering and pod filling stage, (T₇) -100% RDN through Vermicompost, (T₈)- 100% RDN through FYM, (T₉)- 100% RDN through Neem cake, (T₁₀) - 75% of N through Vermicompost + Soil application of Multi- micronutrient Grade I @ 25 kg ha^-1+ Two foliar sprays of Phule Liquid Micro Grade II @ 1% at flowering and pod filling stage, (T₁₁)- 75% of N through FYM + Soil application of Multi- micronutrient Grade I @ 25 kg ha^-1 + Two foliar sprays of Phule Liquid Micro Grade II @ 1% at flowering and pod filling stage, (T₁₂)- 75% of N through Neem cake + Soil application of Multi- micronutrient Grade I @ 25 kg ha^-1 + Two foliar sprays of Phule Liquid Micro Grade II @ 1% at flowering and pod filling stage and (T₁₃)- 75% of RDF + Soil application of Multi- micronutrient Grade I @ 25 kg ha^-1 + Two foliar sprays of Phule Liquid Micro Grade II @ 1% at flowering and pod filling stage. The different growth characters of pigeon pea like plant height, number of primary branches plant^-1, number of secondary branches plant^-1 and dry matter plant^-1 recorded significantly maximum due to the application of treatment (T₃) GRDF (25 N: 50 P₂O₅: 0 K₂O kg ha^-1 + FYM 5 t ha^-1) which was at par with all other treatments except (T₁)- Absolute control (No fertilizer), (T₂)- RDF (25 N: 50 P₂O₅: 0 K₂O) kg ha^-1, (T₄)- 75% GRDF + Soil application of Multi- micronutrient Grade I @ 25 kg ha^-1 and (T₅)- 75% GRDF + Two foliar sprays of Phule Liquid Micro Grade II @ 1% at flowering and pod filling stage. The yield attributing characters of pigeon pea like number of pods plant^-1, number of seed pod^-1, seed yield plant^-1 and test weight were recorded significantly higher in treatment application of GRDF (25 N: 50 P₂O₅: 0 K₂O kg ha^-1+ FYM 5t ha^-1) (T₃). However, significantly higher seed yield and straw yield were obtained from application of the treatment (T₃) GRDF (25 N: 50 P₂O₅: 0 K₂O kg ha^-1+ FYM 5t ha^-1) which was at par with all other treatments except (T₁) - Absolute control (No fertilizer), (T₂)- RDF (25 N: 50 P₂O₅: 0 K₂O) kg ha^-1, (T₄)- 75% GRDF + Soil application of Multi- micronutrient Grade I @ 25 kg ha^-1 and (T₅)- 75% GRDF + Two foliar sprays of Phule Liquid Micro Grade II @ 1% at flowering and pod filling stage. Lowest seed yield and straw yield observed in Absolute control (T₁).