Performance of sole and intercropped pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) as influenced by land configuration, post-monsoon irrigation and phosphorus fertilization

A field experiment conducted at New Delhi during 2001 - 02 on a sandy loam soil analysing low in soil available P revealed that broad-bed and furrow system of planting recorded higher biomass and grain yield of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp), pigeonpea equivalent yield, N and P uptake, water use efficiency, net returns, and P use efficiency over flat planting. Post-monsoon irrigation at 0.4 IWJCPE ratio gave higher biomass and grain yield of pigeonpea, pigeonpea equivalent yield, N and P uptake, net returns, and P use efficiency, but lower water-use efficiency and residual P at harvest over uninigated pigeonpea. The blackgram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) intercropping did not affect yield and nutrient uptake in pigeonpea, but recorded higher pigeonpea equivalent yield, net returns, and water and P use efficiency. The soil had lower available P status at harvest after intercropping as compared with sole pigeonpea. Application of P up to 17.2 kgha enhanced biomass and grain yield of pigeonpea and grain yield of blackgram, total N and P uptake in the cropping system, P use efficiency and residual soil P at harvest. However, 34.4 kg Piha recorded higher biomass yield of blackgram, pigeonpea equivalent yield, net returns and water-use efficiency.