Influence of drip fertigation on resultant seed quality in main and ratoon crops of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) cv. VBN 3.

A laboratory experiment was conducted at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, during two seasons to study the effect of drip fertigation on resultant seed quality in main and ratoon crops of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) cv. VBN 3. The treatments consisted of four fertigation levels viz., F1: 50%, F2: 75%, F3: 100% and F4: 100% of seed recommended dose of fertilizers through drip combined with three foliar spray of FS1: 0.5% ZnSO4, FS2: 100 ppm succinic acid and FS3: 100 ppm humic acid and control having surface irrigation and soil application of fertilizers. The results revealed that fertigation and foliar spray treatments exhibited significant effect on seed quality parameters. Among the treatments, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T11 and T12 resultant seed quality were recorded higher 100 seed weight, germination, seedling length, dry matter production and vigour index as compared to T1, T2, T3 and control in both season. Between the crops, main crop resultant seed quality was better over ratoon crop of pigeonpea.