Effect of date of sowing and spacing on growth and yield of rabi pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.)

A field experi ment was conducted on pigeon pea (cv- Rabi 201105) during 2004 to 2005 at C' Block farm, B.C.K.V., Kalyani, Nadia, west Bengal in split plot design in replicate on sandy clay loam soil with eight dates of sowing (17th, 25th October, 2nd, gh, I 6•h, 23'd, 30'h November & 7th December)and two spacing (15 cm' 30 cm and 45 cm' 30 cm), to study their effect on the yield and yield attributes of Pigeon Pea. The date of sowing and spacing significantly influenced the yield attributes i.e . nu mber of pods per plant, test weight, bio-mass production, harvest index and seed yield. Interaction effects on yield attributes were not significant but that on seed yield, bio-mass yield and harvest index was found significant. Maximum seed yield ( 14.66 q/ha) was obtained when the crop sown on 17.10.2004 (treatment 0 1 ) which was significantly superior to other dates of sowing. Closer spacing gave significantly higher seed yield than wider spacing. Middle of October sown crop under close spacing (D 1 C 1 ) recorded the highest seed yield 17.42 q/ha) which was significantly superior to other treatments. This may be due to higher number of pods per plant, higher test weight (I 000 grains weight in g). High seed yield was associated with short vegetative period and longer reproductive phase. From the economic point of view the highest net return (Rs. 24340. 73/ha) as well as net return per rupee investment (Rs. 2.22/-) was recorded on closed spaced early sown crop.