Optimising Sowing Time and Nutrient Needs of rabi Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] in alfisols of Andhra Pradesh

A field experiment was conducted on sandy clay loam soils of Tirupati Campus of ANGR Agricultural University, Andhra Pradesh to optimise the sowing time and nutrient needs of rabi pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] for its sustained productivity and profitability. Three sowing times: II FN of September, I FN of October and II FN of October; three nutrient levels (N-P2O5-K2O kg ha-1): 10-40-0, 20-50-10 and 30-60-20 and two foliar treatments: NAA (25 ppm) and DAP (2%) at 60 DAS, 60 and 80 DAS were tested on LRG 41 pigeonpea cultivar in split-split plot design, replicated thrice. Earliest sown pigeonpea (II FN September) resulted in significantly higher seed yield (1700 kg ha-1) and net returns ( 32239) due to improvement in yield attributes like pod bearing branches plant-1, number of pods branch-1, number of seeds pod-1 and test weight. Highest nutrient level (30-60-20 NPK ha-1) produced significantly higher seed yield (1589 kg ha-1) and net returns (28448) due to improvement in yield attributes. Foliar application of NAA (25 ppm) and DAP (2%) applied at 60 and 80 DAS recorded significantly highest seed yield (1434 kg ha-1) and net returns (24111) due to its positive effect on pigeonpea yield attributes. Benefit:cost ratio was significantly high (2.71) due to earliest sowing, highest level of nutrient supply (2.46) and foliar application of NAA (25 ppm) and DAP (2%) applied at 60 and 80 DAS (2.26). Early sowings resulted in significantly higher seed yields at higher levels of nutrient supply. Foliar application of DAP (2%) at 60 and 80 DAS recorded significantly higher pigeonpea yield with early sowings. Early sown pigeonpea resulted in significantly higher seed yield at all levels of nutrient supply and foliar applications. Rabi redgram gave optimum yield and economic returns sown during II FN of September with 30-60-20 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1 along with foliar spray of NAA (25 ppm) and DAP (2 per cent) twice at 60 and 80 DAS.