Effects of N, P, Liming, and Mo on Nutrition and Grain Yield of Pigeon Pea
1977
Dalal, R. C. | Quilt, P.
Pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan L. (Millsp.)) have considerable potential as a tropical legume. Intensive research work is underway to study the various aspects of pigeon peas production in the Caribbean region. This investigation was undertaken to study the response of N, P, and Mo fertilizers and liming to the grain yield of pigeon peas. The field experiment was conducted on a River Estate loam, a fluventic eutropept, at the University Field Station, Trinidad. The main treatments, N (O, 12, 20, and 30 kg N/ha), P (O, 50, 100, and 250 kg P/ha), and lime (0. 1,250, 2,500, and 5,000 kg CaCO₃/ ha) were arranged in blocks in a modified central composite design. The subtreatment, Mo was applied at two rates (O and 0.25 kg/ha) on two blocks each. Nitrogen fixation, as measured by acetylene reduction assay, nodule weight, dry matter and grain yield, and nutrient uptake by pigeon peas, were observed. Although the fertilizer N significantly reduced N fixation, the total K arid N uptake, grain yield, and Fe and Cu concentration in the plant were not affected. Applied Mo had no effect or any of the plant parameters considered, possibly because it was present in sufficient amounts in soil. Liming significantly increased total Ca, Mg, and P uptake by pigeon peas but significantly decreased Mn concentration in the plant by raising soil pH. Fertilizer P significantly increased dry matter yield (at 6 weeks of crop growth) and total P uptake but significantly decreased Zn concentration in the plant. The tendency for increasing grain yield with higher rates of liming and especially that of P suggested that the optimum rates of P and liming should be further studied.
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