Assessing the growth and yield responses of rainfed pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) to nano-DAP fertilizer application

R. SACHIN; S. B. PATIL; G. S. YADAHALLI; R. A. NANDAGAVI; G. Y. VIDYAVATHI

R. SACHIN Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vijayapura - 586 101 University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad - 580 005, India
S. B. PATIL Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vijayapura - 586 101 University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad - 580 005, India
G. S. YADAHALLI Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vijayapura - 586 101 University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad - 580 005, India
R. A. NANDAGAVI Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vijayapura - 586 101 University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad - 580 005, India
G. Y. VIDYAVATHI Department of Soil Science and Agril. Chemistry College of Agriculture, Vijayapura - 586 101 University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad - 580 005, India

Keywords: Economics, N P levels, Nanofertilizer, Recommended package of practice

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2022 at the College of Agriculture, Vijayapura, in a split-plot design with two control plots. The main plots consist of basal application of N and P levels, viz., 100%, 75%, 50%, 25% and 0%, and subplots consist of foliar application of nano-DAP @ 2 ml, 4 ml and 6 ml L-1 and the treatment combinations were compared with a recommended package of practice (RPP) and absolute control. The results indicated that the basal application of 100% N and P recorded significantly higher growth, yield and economics than lower N and P levels. Among the foliar applications tested, spraying nano-DAP @ 6 ml L-1 resulted in significantly superior growth, yield and economic outcomes, followed by the application of nano-DAP @ 4 ml L-1. Among the interactions examined, the treatment receiving 100% N and P, along with the foliar application of nano-DAP @ 6 ml L-1 demonstrated significantly superior growth attributes. Specifically, it exhibited a plant height of 177.5 cm, 36.10 branches per plant, and a total dry matter production of 252.2 g per plant. Additionally, this interaction treatment demonstrated better yield attributes, including more pods plant-1 (181.79) and seed weight plant-1 (74.43 g). Moreover, it produced significantly higher seed yield (1883 kg ha-1) and stalk yield (5138 kg ha-1) and maximum net returns (`87329 ha-1) and a benefit-cost ratio (3.36) compared to other treatment combinations. However, the treatment receiving 75% N and P, coupled with nano-DAP spraying both @ 4 and 6 ml L-1, noticed comparable outcomes in terms of seed yield (1712 kg ha-1), stalk yield (4768 kg ha-1), net returns (`79637 ha-1) and a benefit-cost ratio (3.39) with RPP. The study concludes that employing a basal application of 100% N and P coupled with foliar application of nano-DAP @ 4 and 6 ml L-1 enhances the growth, yield, and net returns of pigeonpea in contrast to RPP.