Effect of land configuration and phosphate management on growth and yield of semi-rabi pigeonpea

A field experiment was conducted during the semi-rabi seasons of 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2011-12 at Agronomy Farm, College of Agriculture, Nagpur in a split plot design with four land configurations as main plot treatments viz., flat bed (FB), opening of furrow in every row, opening of furrow after two rows and opening of furrow after three rows and three phosphate managements as sub-plot treatments viz., 100% recommended phosphate (50 kg P 2 O 5 /ha), 75% recommended phosphate (37.5 kg P 2 O 5 / ha), 75% recommended phosphate (37.5 kg P 2 O 5 /ha)+SB @ 2.5 kg/ha soil application. The soil of the experimental plot was clayey, medium high in organic carbon, low in available N and available P 2 O 5 and very high in available K 2 O. Field capacity of experimental plot was 33.20% and PWP was 18.10%. Opening of furrow after every row gave higher yield, gross monetary returns and net monetary returns and higher B : C ratio over flat bed as well as over other treatments during all the three seasons and in pooled results also, but results were significant during first year only. The 100% recommended phosphate (50 kg P 2 O 5 /ha) showed significantly higher grain yield and gross monetary returns during all the three seasons of experimentation and in pooled mean also. However, during individual year 75% recommended phosphate (37.5 kg P 2 O 5 /ha) with PSB @ 2.5 kg soil application showed at par results in respect of yield, GMR and NMR with the 50 kg P 2 O 5 application (100% recommended P 2 O 5 ). The 50 kg P 2 O 5 application (100% recommended P 2 O 5 ) also recorded higher B : C ratio. The interaction effect during individual year was found to be non-significant, but in pooled results 100% recommended phosphate (50 kg P 2 O 5 /ha) with opening of furrow in every row recorded maximum and significantly higher pigeonpea yield over rest of the treatments and 27.3% more yield over flat bed+100% RDF. The GMR and NMR were also significantly higher in the same treatment combination.