Influence of Different Date of Sowing on Performance of Pigeonpea Genotypes during Rabi

Aim: To determine the optimum date of sowing to realize higher growth and seed yield in rabi Pigeonpea.

Study Design: Split plot.

Place and Duration of Study: Siddapur research farm of RARS, Warangal during rabi, 2023-24.

Methodology: The experiment consisted of totally sixteen treatments which was laid out in split plot design with three replications. Treatments included were four dates of sowing in the main plot M1-September 30th, M2-October 15th, M3-October 30thand M4- Novenber15th, 2023 and four treatments of varieties in sub plots S1-WRGE-93, S2-WRGE-121, S3-WRGE-97 and S4-WRGE-182 randomly placed in subplots of the main plot.

Results: Maximum plant height (149.1 cm), dry matter production (602 gm-2), number of fruiting branches plant-1 (13.9) number of pods plant-1 (162.7), number of seeds pod-1 (4.08), seed yield (42.3 g plant-1 and 1392 kg ha-1) and stalk yield(4151 kg ha-1) was noticed in crop Sownon September 30th, 2023. Significantly maximum plant height (137.7 cm), dry matter production (516 g m-2), number of fruiting branches plant-1 (11.7),number of pods plant-1 (144), number of seeds pod-1 (3.85),seed yield (37.9 g plant-1 and 1181 kg ha-1) and stalk yield (3801 kg ha-1) was observed inS4-WRGE-182, which was found on par with S2-WRGE-121 having plant height (134.6cm), dry matter production (512 g m-2),number of fruiting branches plant-1 (11.2),number of pods plant-1 (130.3),number of seeds pod-1 (3.74), seed yield (35.9 g plant-1 and 1166 kg ha-1) and stalk yield (3744 kg ha-1). Lowest growth and yieldparameters were recorded in the crop sown on 15th November and in variety S3-WRGE-97.

Conclusion: Among varieties, WRGE-182 (S4)and WRGE-121 (S2) performed better in terms of growth and yield. Crop sownon September 30th, 2023 revealed better performance in terms of growth and yield under the present study during rabi conditions.