Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

EFFECT OF FOLIAR APPLICATION OF WATER SOLUBLE FERTILIZER ON YIELD, NUTRIENT UPTAKE AND ECONOMICS OF PIGEONPEA (CAJANUS CAJAN (L.) MILLSP)

Mallesha, K. Murali and H.R. Sanju

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of foliar application of water soluble fertilizer on growth and yield of Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Mill sp.] during kharif 2012 at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, UAS, GKVK, Bengaluru. The experiment was conducted on sandy loam soil which was low in available nitrogen and medium in available phosphorus and potassium. The experiment consisted of five concentrations of water soluble fertilizer (WSF), i.e. no foliar spray (control), 0.25% WSF, 0.5% WSF, 0.75% WSF and 1.0% WSF and three stages of foliar application of WSF (peak flowering stage, pod development stage and both at peak flowering and pod development stages). Significantly higher grain yield (1661 kg ha-1) was recorded with foliar application of 1.0% WSF followed by 0.75% WSF (1518 kg ha-1) and 0.50% WSF (1454 kg ha-1) and lower yield was obtained with control (1368 kg ha-1). Application of 1.0% WSF increased the grain yield to the extent of 17.66% compared to no foliar spray (control). But there was no significant difference between stages of spray and the interaction between concentration of water soluble fertilizer and stages. The higher yield with 1.0% WSF was due to increased yield attributes such as number of pods per plant (121.8), pod weight per plant (105.5 g) and grain yield per plant (19.9 g). Economic analysis revealed that, foliar application of 1.0% WSF at peak flowering stage was found to be superior. Foliar application of 1.0% WSF at both peak flowering and pod development stages recorded higher gross returns ( 68,049 ha-1) and net returns ( 46,299 ha-1). But higher benefit cost ratio (3.28) was recorded with foliar application of 1.0% WSF at peak flowering stage. Foliar application of nutrients has shown significant effect on nutrient uptake by the crop. Foliar spray of 1.0% WSF increased the nutrient uptake of N, P and K followed by 0.75% WSF. Lower uptake of nutrients was recorded with control.