Pigeon Pea Green Manuring and Nitrogen Fertilization Increase Agronomic Efficiency by Improving Yield and Ear Characteristics of Maize

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Green legume incorporation is an encouraging, at least unfinished, substitute for chemical fertilizers, particularly for nitrogen (N). The experiment was conducted in an RCB design with a split plot arrangement replicated four times. Pigeon pea green manuring (GM) of 3.4, 6.3 and 7.3 t ha^-1 at pre flowering (GM1), at flowering (GM2) and post flowering (GM3) were assigned to the main plots, respectively, and nitrogen levels (N) (0, 70, 100 and 130 kg N ha^-1) were allotted to the subplots. Results showed that GM2 significantly improved plant height (183 cm) and leaf area (393.6 cm²). Whereas, GM1 significantly enhanced biological yield (9826 kg ha^-1), grain yield (3500 kg ha^-1), thousand grain weight (203.6 g), grain ear^-1(319), ear length (18 cm) and ear diameter (11.4 cm) as compared to GM2. Similarly, nitrogen application at the rate of 130 kg ha^-1 resulted in taller plants, higher leaf area, thousand grain weight, biological and grain yields, harvest index, grains ear^-1, ear height, length, weight and diameter than other N levels. The agronomic efficiency (AE) was significantly increased by 13.8 kg kg^-1 and 11.8 kg kg^-1 at GM1 and 70 kg N ha^-1, respectively. It was concluded from the outcomes of the study that pigeon pea GM at pre flowering stage and 130 kg N ha^-1 improved maize crop production.

Journal of Soil, Plant and Environment

Pigeon Pea Green Manuring and Nitrogen Fertilization Increase Agronomic Efficiency by Improving Yield and Ear Characteristics of Maize