Effect of integrated agronomic practices on hybrids and pure-line varieties under different environmental conditions in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh]

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted at two locations during kharif 2011 and 2012 at Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth (VNMKV), Parbhani, Maharashtra and International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh to study the effect of various integrated agronomic practices on hybrids and pure-line varieties of pigeonpea. The genotypes used were three medium maturity group hybrids (ICPH 2671, ICPH 2740 and ICPH 3762) and three pure-line varieties (BDN 711, BSMR 736 and Asha) laid out in split-plot design with three replications in Vertisols. The experimental material was planted in three treatments viz., T, [75 x 30 cm + 100 kg DAP (basal) + no protective irrigation]; T2 [75 x 60 cm + 50 N:100 P20 5 kg ha'1 (split application: 50% as basal and 50% at 60 days) + two protective irrigations (during mid-flowering and mid-pod development stage)]; and T3 [150 x 30 cm + 50 N:100 P20 5 kg ha'1 (split application: 50% as basal and 50% at 60 days) + two protective irrigations (mid-flowering and mid-pod development stage)]. The results indicated that significantly higher seed yield, biomass and harvest index was recorded in T2 at 3923.9 kg ha'1, 8816.6 kg ha'1 and 30.8%, respectively as compared to T3 (3262.5 kg ha'1, 7670.1 kg ha'1 and 29.8%, respectively) and T, (2932.3 kg ha'1, 7633.3 kg ha'1 and 27.8%, respectively). Genotype * environment interaction indicated that over the two locations in two years, hybrids recorded higher seed yield as compared to pure-line varieties. However, G3T2[ICPH 3762 + (75 x 60 cm + 50 kg N: 100 P2Os kg ha'1 (split application at 50% as basal and 50% at 60 days after sowing) + two irrigations (during mid-flowering and mid-pod development stage)] recorded the highest seed yield (4 i 53.6 kg ha'1). Number of pods plant'1 and biomass weight (kg ha'1) showed significant variation in the interaction of environment x genotype * treatment (EGT). E ^ jTj recorded significantly higher number of pods plant'1 (1181.9) followed by E,G3T2 (1026.1) which significantly converted into higher seed yield plant'1 (237.1 g & 240.1 g respectively) while E2G2T2 exhibited significantly greater biomass (11977.9 kg ha'1). Among all the genotypes tested, Hybrid ICPH 3762 recorded highest number of pods plant'1 inT3in almost all environments.