Pigeonpea Productivity and Soil Health as Influenced by Phosphorus Levels and AM Fungi under Different Planting Methods

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at ARS, Bheemarayarnagudi, Karnataka to study the effect of phosphorus graded levels and inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi under different establishment techniques in pigeonpea during kharif season of three years (2010-13) in Upper Krishna Project command area of Karnataka. The treatment consists of   phosphorus graded levels (0, 12.5, 25, 37.5 and 50kg ha-1) with inoculation VAM fungi under two establishment techniques (Transplanted and dibbled) with randomized block design.  Three-year pooled data indicated that, Application of 50 kg P + VAM under transplanting technique recorded significantly higher pigeonpea yield (1510 kg ha-1) and it was on par with application 37.5 kg P + VAM under transplanting method over rest of the treatment. The economics and nutrient uptake also noticed similar trend. It proved that pigeonpea could be successfully transplanted in the UKP command area of Karnataka by applying 37.5 kg of phosphorus ha-1 in conjunction with VAM fungus inoculation. This boosted crop productivity, nutrient availability, and net returns.