Economic effect of mechanical intervention through sub-soiling on growth and yield of rainfed pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan)

A two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of sub-soiling on plant growth, root morphology and yield of rainfed pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L. ) Millsp.] (Var LRG 41) during 2012-13 and 2013-14. Crop exposed to moisture stress condition from flowering to harvest (120 days) dur...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: C RAMANA, P SUDHAKAR, G KRISHNA REDDY, K V NAGAMADHURI, T PRASHANTHI, P LAVANYA KUMARI, T GIRIDHRA KRISHNA, A HEMASRI
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Indian Council of Agricultural Research 2015-07-01
Series:The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://epubs.icar.org.in/index.php/IJAgS/article/view/50096
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Summary:A two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of sub-soiling on plant growth, root morphology and yield of rainfed pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L. ) Millsp.] (Var LRG 41) during 2012-13 and 2013-14. Crop exposed to moisture stress condition from flowering to harvest (120 days) during 2013-14, compared to experiment conducted during 2012-13. The results indicated that sub-soil tillage sustained higher shoot, root growth and seed yield during the year 2013-14, which coincided with end of season drought compared to conventional tillage treatment. Crop growth in terms of plant height, leaf area/plant significantly improved due to sub-soiling compared to conventionally tilled treatment. Similarly sub-soiling recorded significant increase in drought tolerant traits, viz. root length (234%), root dry weight (274%) and relative water content (37%). Consequently, sub-soil tillage recorded significant increase in number of pods/plant by 59%, 100 seed weight by 12% and pod yield by 219% compared to conventionally tilled treatment. Sub-soil tillage proved efficient method of mechanical intervention for drought mitigation under rainfed pigeonpea cultivation.
ISSN:0019-5022
2394-3319