Effect of Sowing Date and Variety on Pigeonpea Production in Nepal

Aims: An unsuitable sowing time and selection of inappropriate variety were the main yield limiting factors in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) cultivation. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted to study the effect of sowing dates on growth and yield of pigeonpea varieties. Study Design: The experiment was laid out in spit plot design. Place and Duration of Study: This experiment was conducted at the Grain Legumes Research Program (GLRP), Khajura, Banke, Nepal in two consecutive years, 2020/21 and 2021/22. Methodology: The experiment consisted five sowing dates treatments viz., 2nd July, 17th July, 1st August, 16th August and 31st August as the main-factor and two promising varieties viz., ICPL-88039 and MA-6 as the sub-factor, with three replications. Results: Both the sowing time and variety significantly influenced all the tested growth and yield parameters of pigeonpea at one percent significance level. Early sowing (2nd July) recorded longer days to flowering and maturity and taller plants that affected the yield. Pigeonpea produced the highest (P ≤ 0.01) seed yield (1482 kg/ha), while seeded on 2nd July. Moreover, the pigeonpea sown on 2nd to 17th  July produced 36% more seed yield than sown on 1st to 31st August. Similarly, a promising variety of pigeonpea MA-6 (1028 kg/ha) produced significantly higher (P ≤ 0.01) seed yield compared to the variety ICPL-88039 (888 kg/ha). Conclusion: The study identified the 2nd July as the most appropriate time of sowing and the MA-6 as a high yielding variety of pigeonpea for the study area in Mid-Western Terai Region of Nepal.