Effect of Phosphorus and Sulphur Fertilization on Growth, Yield, Nutrient Uptake, their recovery and use Efficiency by Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] genotypes

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2010, 2011 and 2012 with three pigeonpea genotypes (UPAS 120, Pusa 992 and Pusa 855), four levels of P (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg P₂ O₅ /ha) and three levels of S (0, 20 and 40 kg S/ha) in Split-Split Plot Design under 25 three replications. Pusa 855 found significantly superior to other genotypes and produced 16.71 and 20.14% higher seed yield over UPAS 120 and Pusa 992, respectively. 90 kg P₂ O ₅/ha resulted 46.78% higher seed yield over no phosphorus. However, application of 40 25 kg sulphur resulted, a yield gain of 21.34% over no sulphur. Pusa 855 with 90 kg P₂ O₅ + 40 kg S/ha, had 8.55 and 11.01 % higher P and S 25 uptake than UPAS 120, respectively. Phosphorus recovery and P use efficiency decreased with increasing P but increased with increasing sulphur. Highest P recovery (12.84 %) under Pusa 855 was with 30 kg P₂O₅ +40 kg S/ha. Whereas, maximum S recovery with 25 Pusa 992 (23.65 %) was under 90 kg P₂O₅+ 20 kg S/ha. Highest Puse efficiency (14.3 kg/kg Papplied) was recorded under UPAS 120 at 25 30 kg P₂O₅ + 40 kg S/ha. Analogously, highest S use efficiency with Pusa 855 (52.30 kg/kg S applied) under 90 kg P₂ O₅ +20 kg S/ha. 25 25 Pusa 855 (` 39391) and UPAS 120 (` 30199) gave maximum net return with 90 kg P O + 40 kg S/ha whereas, Pusa 992 gave its 25 maximum net return (` 29265) with 60 kg P₂ O₅ + 40 kg S/ha.