Effect of different colour mulches, fertigation levels and levels of irrigation on growth and yield of transplanted pigeonpea

An experiment was conducted in the research field of College of Agricultural Engineering, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, during 2019-20 to study the effect of different colour mulches, fertigation levels and levels of irrigation on growth and yield of pigeonpea. Two levels of fertigation (75% RDF and 100% RDF), three levels of irrigation (60% ET, 80%ET and 100% ET) and three color plastic mulches (white, silver, black and control) were the treatments. All the parameters like plant height, number of primary and secondary branches, chlorophyll content, soil moisture and soil temperature at surface and at 10 cm depth, leaf area index, harvest index, number of pods per plant, seeds per pod, test weight, seed yield, dry matter production recorded highest in the white mulch with 100 per cent RDF and 100 per cent ET. The maximum seed yield (2161.69kg ha-1) was recorded with 100 per cent RDF. Lowest seed yield (2001.48 kg ha-1) was observed with the application of 75 per cent RDF. Drip irrigation at 100 per cent ET produced significantly maximum yield (2302.88 kg ha-1) and minimum yield was recorded in 60 per cent ET (2161.38 kg ha-1). Among plastic colour mulches, white plastic mulch produced significantly maximum yield (2384 kg ha-1). While minimum yield was recorded in the control treatment (2001.57kg ha-1).Water use efficiency was found to b emaximum in 100 per cent RDF, 100 per cent ET and white plastic mulch (5.71 kg ha-1 mm-1). Nitrogen and phosphorous use efficiency was 111.01% and 55.5%, respectively in 100 per cent RDF, 100 per cent ET and white plastic mulch.