Author(s):

Sheela Barla, RR Upasani, Niru Kumari and SK Kulshreshtha

Abstract: A field experiment was conducted during <em>kharif</em> 2011-12 and 2012-13 to study the response of hybrid pigeon pea to planting geometry and age of seedling. Maximum plant spread (93.56 cm) and test weight were recorded with plant geometry of 75 cm x 25 cm which was 64.46 and 3.61 percent more than 90 cm x 20 cm. This geometry also recorded more pod length as well as 4.8 and 4.2 days early in 50% flowering and pod formation stage compared to 75 cm x 25 cm spacing. Both plant geometry being similar, geometry of 75 cm x 25 cm with population of 53,333 plants ha^-1 recorded higher grain yield (2.64 t ha^-1) than that of 90 cm x 20 cm with population of 55,555 plants ha^-1 (2.4 t ha^-1). Transplanting of pigeon pea 15 days old seedling recorded maximum plant height, primary and secondary branches, plant spread (East to West), pods per plant, test weight, yield, gross return, net return as well as B:C ratio and less number of days taken to 50% flowering and pod formation. 15 days old seedling was similar to 30 days old seedling with respect to plant spread (East to West), number of pods per plant and days taken to 50% pod formation and was also similar with direct seeded pigeon pea with respect to number of pods per plant and days taken to 50% pod formation. Transplanting of 15 days old seedling was also similar to 30 days old seedling and direct seeding in terms of net return and B:C ratio as it recorded 18.56, 18.56, 20.33 and 8.1 percent higher seed yield, gross return, net return as well as B:C ratio than direct seeded pigeon pea i.e. 2.48 t/ ha, ₹136343, ₹109378 and 4.05 respectively. The interaction effect revealed that seed yield and net return under 75 cm x 25 cm plant geometry with 15 days old seedling being similar to 90 cm x 20 cm spacing with 15 and 30 days old seedling and also 75 cm x 25 cm spacing with direct seeding were significantly higher than any other combinations of plant geometry and seedling age.

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