Response of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) to different irrigation and fertilizer application methods under zero-tilled condition of south Konkan coastal zone of Maharashtra Rajemahadik V.A.1*, Shetye V.N.1, Chavan V.G.1, Chavan S.A.2, Mahadkar U.V.3 Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Dist. Ratnagiri, Maharshtra415712India 1Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Dist. Ratnagiri, Maharashtra415712India 2Ex-Head, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Dist. Ratnagiri, Maharashtra415712India 3Associate Dean, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Dist. Ratnagiri, Maharashtra415712India *Corresponding author's Email: rajedbskkv@gmail.com
Online published on 11 February, 2021. Abstract A field experiment was conducted for 3 consecutive years from 2011–12 to 2013–14 at Dapoli, Dist. Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, to assess the effect of irrigation and levels of fertilizer application on zero-tilled cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.)]. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with 3 replications. The main plot treatments comprised 3 irrigation levels, viz. no irrigation (I0), 1 irrigation at branching (I1) and 2 irrigations at branching and pod filling stage (I2). The subplot treatments comprised 6 fertilizer levels, viz. no fertilizer (F0), 25% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) below seed placement (F1), 50% RDF below seed placement (F2), 75% RDF below seed placement (F3), 100% RDF below seed placement (F4) and 100% RDF through line application (F5). The soil of the experimental plot was uniform, leveled and well drained. It was sandy clay loam, medium in available nitrogen (298.20 kg/ha), low in available phosphorus (11.80 kg/ha), moderately high in available potassium (249.35 kg/ha), high in organic carbon (0.95%) and slightly acidic in reaction. Statistical inferences revealed that application of 2 irrigations (at branching and pod-filling stage) recorded significantly higher growth as well as yield attributes, resulting in higher grain and stover yields followed by the treatment with 1 irrigation (at branching) and control treatment. Application of 100% RDF below seed placement recorded significantly higher growth as well as yield attributes, resulting in higher grain and stover yields followed by 100% RDF through line application and 75% RDF below seed placement over rest of the treatments. Among the different irrigation treatments, application of irrigation at branching and pod-filling stage (?25.5x103/ha) under zero-tilled condition along with 100% recommended dose of fertilizer resulted in significantly higher net returns resulted in (?23.4 x 103/ha) over the control treatment, i.e. F0. The highest benefit: cost ratio was recorded under application of 2 irrigations at branching and pod-filling stage (1.57) along with 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (1.50) which was significantly greater over the control treatment, i.e. F0, where fertilizer were not applied during experimentation. Top Keywords Cowpea, Fertilizer level, Irrigation, Yield, Zero tillage. Top |