Response of Phosphorus levels and Bioinoculants on Yield Attributes, Yield, Nutrient Content and uptake of Long duration Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2008–09 and 2009–10 to study the response of phosphorus levels (control, 25, 50 and 75 kg P2O5 ha−1) and bioinoculants (untreated control, PSB, PGPR and PSB + PGPR) on yield attributes viz. pod length (cm), pods plant−1, pod weight plant−1 (g), grains pod1, 1000-grain weight (g), yield (q ha−1), nutrient content (%) and uptake (kg ha−1) of pigeonpea. The results showed that the application of 75 kg P2O5 ha−1 recorded the maximum yield attributes viz. pod length (cm), pods plant−1, pod weight plant−1 (g), grains pod−1, 1000-grain weight (g), yield (q ha−1) and it was significantly superior over 25 kg P2O5 ha−1 and control but, was at par with 50 kg P2O5 ha−1 during both the years of experimentation. Higher nutrient content and uptake were associated with 75 kg P2O5 ha−1 which was significantly superior over 25 kg P2O5 ha−1 and control but at par with 50 kg P2O5 ha−1 during both the years of experimentation. Amongst bioinoculants, dual inoculation of PSB + PGPR produced maximum yield attributes viz. pod length (cm), pods plant−1, pod weight plant−1 (g), grains pod−1, 1000-grain weight, yield, nutrient content and uptake and found significantly superior over sole application of PGPR, PSB and control. Combined application of 75 kg P2O5 ha−1 + PSB + PGPR was found significantly superior over 25 kg P2O5 ha−1 + PSB + PGPR and control which was at par with 50 kg P2O5 ha−1 + PSB + PGPR during both years in respect of grains pod−1, 1000-grain weight (g), grain yield (q ha1) and phosphorus uptake (kg ha−1) in grain.