RESPONSE OF PIGEONPEA(CAJANUS CAJAN) + MUNGBEAN (PHASEOLUS RADIATUS) INTERCROPPING SYSTEM TO PHOSPHORUS AND BIOFERTILIZERS

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1 Legume Res., 36 (4) : , 2013 AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATION CENTRE / indianjournals.com RESPONSE OF PIGEONPEA(CAJANUS CAJAN) + MUNGBEAN (PHASEOLUS RADIATUS) INTERCROPPING SYSTEM TO PHOSPHORUS AND BIOFERTILIZERS Jitendra Kumar Malik, Ravindra Singh*, O.V.S. Thenua and Anil Kumar 1 Amar Singh (P.G.) College, Lakhaoti, Bulandshahr , India Received: Accepted: ABSTRACT A field investigation was carried out during the kharif season of and Present study revealed that inter cropping of mungbean did not show adverse effect on the growth attributes, yield attributes and yield of pigeonpea. Phosphorus 40 and 80 kg P 2 /ha and seed inoculation with Rhizobium and Rhizobium + Phosphorus Solubalizing Bacteria (PSB) significantly improved growth and yield attributes and grain yield of pigeonpea and pigeonpea + mungbean inter-cropping system. Cropping system (intercropping) markedly recorded higher pigeonpea equivalent yield (1451 and 1751 kg/ha) over sole pigeonpea (1235 and 1476 kg/ha) in both the years, respectively. The intercropping of mungbean in pigeonpea did not affect grain yield of pigeonpea (1194 and 1443 kg/ha) and instead gave an additional grain yield of mungbean (237 and 256 kg/ha). This additional grain yield of mungbean along with pigeonpea grain yield significantly produced higher pigeonpea equivalent yield (1451 and 1719 kg/ha) over sole pigeonpea as well as sole mungbean. The pigeonpea + mungbean intercropping system recorded significantly higher organic carbon in soil over sole pigeonpea. The phosphorus applied to crops markedly enhanced organic carbon, available P and K content of soil after the harvest of pigeonpea and mungbean. Key words: Biofertilizers, Intercropping, Mungbean, Phosphorus, Pigeonpea. INTRODUCTION The productivity levels of pulses in India lies between kg/ha -1, which is far below when compared with average productivity of the world. Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) is a most vital pulse crop after chickpea in India and grown mostly in tropical and sub- tropical parts of the country as sole crop, intercrop, mixed crop and in sequential cropping systems for grain and stover purposes. The yield of pigeonpea is limited by a number of factors such as agronomic, pathogenic, entomological, genetic and their interaction with environment. The current shortage of pulses in India has stimulated thought on developing new pigeonpea based intercropping systems. Intercropping is an intensive land use system for increasing the productivity by utilizing the spaces left between the rows of main or base crop. Pigeonpea can be grown under wider range of ecological situations mainly due to its deep rooting system and drought tolerant characters. Slow growth of pigeonpea upto days with wider row spacing makes it specially suitable crop for intercropping with short duration crops. Pigeonpea intercropped with short duration pulses like mungbean (Phaseolus radiatus) is most suitable combination as they differ in growth and duration to complete the life cycle. Being legumes, pigeonpea and mungbean play an important role in nitrogen economy in the cropping systems by virtue of their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in symbiotic association with Rhizobium (Ahlawat et al., 1985). Therefore, there is no need to apply much nitrogen from external sources, but phosphorus is an important and limiting nutrient for legumes. However, phosphate anions are extremely reactive and may be immobilized through precipitation with cations such as Ca 2+, Mg 2+, Fe 3+ and Al 3+ depending of the properties of soil. In these forms, P is highly * Corresponding author s mahla_rs@yahoo.com; Address: NRC on Seed Spices Tabiji Ajmer IASRI, Pusa New Delhi

2 324 LEGUME RESEARCH insoluble and unavailable to plants. As a result the P efficiency is reduced to 15-20%. Phosphorus Solubalizing Bacteria (PSB) helps in mineralization of insoluble forms of P to an accessible forms by production of organic acids and acid phosphatises through acidification of microbial cells and its surroundings. Keeping in view the importance of intercropping system to increase the productivity of pulses per unit land area and the scope for management of P nutrition and biofertilizers (Rhizobium and PSB), the present experiment was conducted to optimize the phosphorus and biofertilizers needs in pigeonpea + mungbean intercropping system. MATERIALS AND METHODS A field experiment was conducted at Research Farm of Amar Singh (P.G.) College, Lakhaoti, Bulandshahr (U.P.) during the summer season of and on sandy loam soil. The farm site is located (28 0 N latitude, 77 E longitude and m above MSL) between the belt of Doab of Ganga and Yamuna in western Uttar Pradesh and this area is known to be suitable for crop production. The soil was low in organic carbon (0.33 and 0.35%), available nitrogen (156.6 and kg/ha), available phosphorus (9.10 and 9.45 kg/ha) and potassium (200.7 and kg/ha) with nearly neutral ph (7.45 and 7.43) at 0-30 cm soil depth during 2005 and 2006, respectively. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with three replications, keeping the cropping system and phosphorus levels in main plot and biofertilizers in sub-plots. Treatments consisted of three intercropping system viz., sole pigeonpea, sole mungbean and pigeonpea + mungbean with three levels of phosphorus viz., 0, 40 and 80 kg P 2 /ha and three levels of biofertilizers viz., control, Rhizobium and Rhizobium + PSB. A uniform basal dose of 25 kg N/ha through urea and the entire dose of phosphorus through single superphosphate as per treatments were applied at the time of sowing. The seeds of pigeonpea and mungbean were inoculated with Rhizobium and PSB culture containing inoculums of Pseudomonas striata as per treatments. The seed rate was 15 and 20 kg/ ha for pigeonpea (cv. UPAS-120) and mungbean (cv. Vishal), respectively during both the years. Pigeonpea and mungbean were sown in rows 60 and 30 cm apart, respectively on 8 th May, 2005 and 1 st May, Mungbean was intercropped between two rows of pigeonpea. The mungbean was harvested on 4 th August in 2005 and 31 July in The pigeonpea crop was harvested in third week of November in both the years. After harvest of pigeonpea, soil samples were collected from each plot for chemical analysis. The concentration of N and P in plant and soil samples were estimated by micro-kjeldhal, Alkaline Permanganate Method, Olsen s method and vanadomolybdate yellow colour methods. The pigeonpea equivalent yield was computed by converting the mungbean yield to pigeonpea yield, based on their market prices. The data collected from the experiment were subjected to statistical test by following Analysis of variance technique as suggested by Cochran and Cox (1957). Wherever variance ratio ( f value) was significant, critical difference (CD) values at 5% level of probability were computed for making comparison between treatments. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Pigeonpea Growth attributes: The intercropping system failed to affect the plant height and number of branches/ plant of pigeonpea (Table 1). This might be due to the absence of competition between main crop (pigeonpea) and the intercrop (mungbean) for resources such as nutrients, solar radiation and moisture because of shorter duration and non spreading nature of mungbean. The results are in close conformity with the findings of Kantwa et al. (2005). Application of 40 kg/ha P 2 significantly improved plant height and number of branches/plant of pigeonpea by 15.6 and 8.5 % during and 14.4 and 12.9% during , respectively over control. The overall improvement in growth of pigeonpea with the application of phosphorus could be ascribed to its pivotal role in several physiological and biochemical processes of root development, photosynthesis, energy transfer reaction (ATP and ADP) and symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation process (Tisdale et al., 1995). The improvement in growth attri butes of pigeonpea with applicati on of phosphorus has also been reported by Kantwa etal. (2005). Seed inoculation with Rhizobium + PSB, significantly produced taller plants and more number of branches/ plant over control and Rhizobium inoculation alone (Table 1) of pigeonpea. This response of Rhizobium + PSB on growth attributes

3 could be attributed to the higher availability of nitrogen and phosphorus in soil. These results are in line with the findings of Jat et al., (2000) and Jat and Ahlawat (2003). Yield attributes and yield: Cropping systems had no effect on yield attributes viz., number of pods/ plant, number of seeds/pod, 1,000 seed weight and grain yield of pigeonpea (Table 1). This could be attributed to the similar conditions of plant growth and development of pigeonpea as it was also evident in growth parameters (plant height, and numbers of branches/plant). Application of 40 and 80 kg P 2 / ha being at par produced higher yield attributes over control. Application of 40 kg/ha significantly increased the number of pods/plant and number of seed/pod of pigeonpea by 10.4 and 14.5 % during 2005 and 11.1 and 15.8 % during 2006, respectively as compared to no phosphorus application. The improvement in yield parameters might have resulted from favorable influence of phosphorus nutrition on the growth attributing characters (plant height, and branches / plant) finally leading to greater nutrient uptake, efficient partitioning of metabolites, adequate translocation and accumulation of photosynthates (Tisdale et al., 1995). The observations of the present study are in line with the findings of Kantwa et al. (2005). Seed inoculation with Rhizobium + PSB significantly improved number of pods/plant and number of seeds/pod of pigeonpea by 7.7 and 6.4% during 2005 and 8.2 and 10.9% during 2006, respectively as compared to Rhizobium inoculation alone (Table 1). This increase in yield attributes might be due to the fact that phosphorus and nitrogen are involved in many plant processes li ke chlorophyll formation, reproduction and energy formation in the form of ATP and ADP. Intercropping of mungbean with pigeonpea did not show adverse effect on the grain yield of pigeonpea. The growth and development of pigeonpea in sole and intercropping system was similar and having different feeding zone of nutrient and water absorption which was finally reflected in yield attributes and yield of pigeonpea. Kantwa et al. (2005) also observed similar behaviour in pigeonpea + mungbean intercropping system. Application of 40 kg P 2 /ha Vol. 36, No. 4, significantly improved seed yield of pigeonpea by 20.4 and 16.1% during 2005 and 2006 over control, whereas the differences between 40 and 80 kg P 2 / ha were non significant. The increase in seed yield of pigeonpea due to application of phosphorus was largely a function of improved growth and translocation of more photosynthates towards sink and consequent development of yield attributes. These results are in close conformity with the work of Jat and Ahlawat (2003) and Chaudhari and Gavhane (2005). Seed inoculation with Rhizobium + PSB significantly improved seed yield of pigeonpea by 38.6 and 35.0% compared to control and by 21.8 and 21.1% compared to Rhizobium inoculation alone during 2005 and 2006, respectively. Rhizobium might help in fast root nodulation and fixed more nitrogen in the roots of the plant and phosphate solubalizing bacteria protect conversion of applied and native available phosphorus into unavailable forms and solubilize organic phosphorus to available forms which resulted in increasing availability of phosphorus for proper vital functions, resulted in improvement in growth, yield attributes and yield of pigeonpea. Mungbean Growth attributes: The intercropping system failed to affect the plant height and number of branches/ plant of mungbean (Table 2). This might be due to the absence of competition between main crop (pigeonpea) and the intercrop (mungbean) for growth inputs such as nutrients, solar radiation and moisture because of shallow root system, shorter duration and non spreading nature of mungbean. The results of the present investigation are in close conformity with the findings of Kantwa et al. (2005). The application of phosphorus resulted in improved growth attributes and this might be due to easy availability of applied phosphorus for proper root development, root nodulation, photosynthesis and energy transfer processes. Thus, improved P nutrition contributed to better plant growth of mungbean. Seed inoculation with Rhizobium + PSB, significantly produced taller plants and higher number of branches/ plant over control and Rhizobium inoculation alone during both the years (Table 2). This might be due to more availability of nitrogen through Rhizobium for protein and photosynthesis and phosphorus through PSB for

4 326 LEGUME RESEARCH TABLE 1: Growth and yield attributes of pigeonpea as influenced by intercropping, phosphorus levels and biofertilizers.

5 Vol. 36, No. 4, TABLE 2: Growth and yield attributes of mungbean as influenced by intercropping, phosphorus levels and biofertilizers

6 328 LEGUME RESEARCH proper root development, nodulation and energy transfer process. Hence, greater N fixation coupled with improved P nutrition could have contributed to the better plant growth. Yield attributes and yield: Cropping systems had non significant effect on yield attributes viz., seed/ pod and 1,000 seed weight (Table 2) but sole mungbean produced significantly higher pods/plant over intercropping system. Application of 40 kg/ha P 2 enhanced pods/plant and seed/ pod of mungbean as compared with control (Table 2). This might be due to favourable effect of phosphorus nutrition on growth attributes viz, plant height and branches/plant. Seed inoculated with Rhizobium + PSB, increased the pods/plant and seed/pod of mungbean over Rhizobium alone (Table 2). This might be due to the fact that Rhizobium + PSB increased the avai lability of nitrogen, phosphorus and certai n growth promoti ng hormones, resulted in better growth attributes finally led to higher values of yield attributes. These results are in conformity with the results of, Jat and Ahlawat (2003) and Kantwa et, al. (2006). Sole mungbean produced significantly higher grain yield of mungbean as compared to intercropping with pigeonpea (Table 3). This could be attributed to higher plant population in sole mungbean (30 cm row spacing) as compared to intercropped with pigeonpea (60 cm row spacing). This ultimately enhanced the grain yield in sole mungbean over the intercropped mungbean. The significant increase in seed yield of mungbean by phosphorus application was largely a function of improved growth and yield parameters leading to better nutrient uptake, adequate accumulation of photosynthates and consequent increased in yield attributing character and ultimately the yield. Seed treatment with Rhizobium + PSB also enhanced seed yield significantly by 75.0 and 55.3 % compared with control and 61.1 and % compared with Rhizobium alone during 2005 and 2006, respectively (Table 2). This increase might be due to cumulative effect of increased growth and yield attributes as well as increased nitrogen and phosphorus uptake of mungbean. Pigeonpea equivalent yield: The intercropping of mungbean in pigeonpea did not affect grain yield of pigeonpea and instead produced additional grain yield of mungbean. This additional grain yield of mungbean along with pigeonpea grain yield significantly produced higher pigeonpea equivalent yield over sole pigeonpea as well as sole mungbean. The percent increase in pigeonpea equivalent yield due to intercropping was 65.4 and 16.8% in 2005 and 91.0 and 16.4% in 2006 as compared with pigeonpea sole and mungbean sole, respectively. Similar results were also reported by Kantwa et al. (2006). The per cent increase in pigeonpea equivalent yield with 40 and 80 kg P 2 /ha over no phosphorus was 34.1 and 41.3% in 2005 and 27.6 and 37.7% in 2006, respectively. This might be attributed to increase in yield of both component crops (pigeonpea and mungbean) with phosphorus application. Similar observation were also reported Kantwa et al. (2006). Seed inoculations with Rhizobium, Rhizobium + PSB had marked influence on pigeonpea equivalent yield over no inoculation (Table 3). This could be attributed to the fact that Rhizobium and Rhizobium + PSB significantly increased the grain yield of pigeonpea and mungbean, which finally led to significant increase in pigeonpea equivalent yield. Similar results were also reported by Jat and Ahlawat (2003). Soil fertility: The pigeonpea + mungbean intercropping system recorded significantly higher organic carbon in soil over sole pigeonpea and mungbean during both the years (Table 3). This might be because of more addition of organic matter by combined cultivation of both the crops than their sole cultivation. The intercropping system failed to increase available N, P and K in soil over sole cultivation of pigeonpea and mungbean. This might be due to absence of competition between main crop and the intercrop (mungbean) for these nutrients because of shorter duration and less responding nature of mungbean to nutrients. The phosphorus applied to crops markedly enhanced organic carbon, available P and K content of soil after the harvest of crops. Increase in organic carbon and available K in soil at harvest of crops might be due to more addition of organic matter to the soil and more decomposition of roots in soil. Whereas increase in P content in soil at harvest of crops resulted from direct relationship between added P and available P content of soil. Seed inoculation with Rhizobium and Rhizobium + PSB recorded significantly higher

7 Vol. 36, No. 4, TABLE 3: Effect of cropping systems, phosphorus levels and biofetilizers on system productivity (pigeonpea equivalent yield) and soil fertility of pigeonpea, mungbean and pgeonpea+ mungbean inter cropping system. * Minimum support prize pigeonpea Rs. 1400/q and mungbean Rs. 1520/q ** Minimum support prize pigeonpea Rs. 1410/q and mungbean Rs. 1520/q

8 330 LEGUME RESEARCH organic carbon in soil after the harvest of crops. However, available N and K in soil after the harvest of crops did not differ significantly by boifertilizer application. Further, the root system of legumes has capacity to solubilize soil phosphorus through excretion of amino acids and encourage the growth and multiplication of soil microbes which finally led to mineralization of unavailable P to available P in soil. The results corporate the findings of Katyal et al. (2003). H ence it can be concluded from two years study that intercropping of mungbean with pigeonpea not only gave higher pigeonpea equivalent yield but also improved soil fertility than sowing of sole crops. Application of 40 kg P 2 /ha and seed i no culati on w i t h Rhizobium + PSB also gave higher pigeonpea equivalent grain yield with improved soil fertility. REFERENCES Ahlawat, I.P.S., Saraf, C.S. and Singh, A. (1985). Production potential of summer and rainy season pigeonpea intercropped with cowpea and green gram. Indian J. Agric. Sci., 55: Chaudhari, P.R. and Gavhane, V.N. (2005). Effects of phosphate solubilizing biofertilizers on growth, nutrient uptake and yield of pigeonpea cv. ICPL-87. Research-on-Crops, 6(3): Cochran, W.G. and Cox, G.M. (1957). Experimental Designs. 2 nd edition, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. Jat, H.S., Ahlawat, I.P.S. and Jat, M.L. (2000). Effect of land layouts, post-monsoon irrigation and fertilizers on nutrient uptake, water use efficiency and soil moisture extraction pattern by pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan). Journal of Farming System Research and Development 6(1&2): Jat, H.S. and Ahlawat, I.P.S. (2003). Response of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) + groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) intercropping system to planting and phosphorus management. Indian Journal of Agronomy 48(3): Kantwa, S.R., Ahlawat, I.P.S. and Gangaih, B. (2005). Effect of land configuration, post-monsoon irrigation and phosphorus on performance of sole and intercropped pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan). Indian Journal of Agronomy 50(4): Kantwa, S.R., Ahlawat, I.P.S. and Gangaiah, B. (2006). Performance of Sole and inter cropped pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) as influenced by land configuration, post-monsoon irrigation and phosphorus fertilization. Indian Journal of Agronomy 76(10): Tisdale, S.L, Nelson, W.L., Beaton, J.D. and Havlin, J.L. (1995) Soil Fertility and Fertilizers. Fifth Edition, New Delhi, Prentice hall of India Pvt Ltd, pp