Effect of sowing window and row spacing on growth and yield of pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]
Keywords:
Cajanus cajan, sowing window, planting geometry, growing degree days, grain yield, benefit–cost ratioAbstract
An investigation was carried out to assess the influence of sowing window and planting geometry on growth, phenological development, productivity, and economics of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) in the Southern Dry Zone of Karnataka. The results indicated that early sowing during the second fortnight of May significantly improved vegetative growth, recording higher plant height (221.7 cm), branches per plant (18.6), leaf area (87.4 dm² plant–1), and total dry matter accumulation (348.2 g plant–1) at harvest. This sowing window also prolonged crop duration and accumulated greater growing degree days to flowering (1684.3 °C day) and maturity (2598.6 °C day). Enhanced growth translated into superior yield attributes, including pods per plant (243.5), seeds per pod (3.8), and 100-seed weight (11.2 g), resulting in the higher grain yield (1636 kg ha–1) and stalk yield (6448 kg ha–1). Delayed sowing during the second fortnight of June led to reduced crop duration, plant height (174.3 cm), and grain yield (1182 kg ha–1). With respect to planting geometry, wider spacing of 240 × 30 cm favoured individual plant growth, whereas the intermediate spacing of 180 × 30 cm produced the maximum grain yield (1504 kg ha–1), net returns (`52,340 ha–1), and benefit–cost ratio (2.41) by maintaining an optimum plant stand. The interaction of May second fortnight sowing with 180 × 30 cm spacing was found to be the most effective combination for enhancing yield and economic returns of pigeonpea under rainfed conditions.
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