Optimization of Foliar Nutrition and Nipping for Quality of Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L). Millsp.]

A field experiment was conducted in red sandy clay loam soil at UAS, GKVK, Bengaluru during kharif to know the influence of foliar nutrition and nipping on crop growth, seed yield and quality in pigeonpea. The experiment replicated six times in split plot design with treatments of foliar spray of water soluble fertilizer (WSF)with three different concentration F0 (100% RDF), F1 (75% RDF + 25% WSF (19: 19:19), F2 (75% RDF + 12.5% WSF (19: 19:19) in combination with nipping (N1) and no nipping (N0). The results revealed that seed quality parameters viz.,germination (85.75 %) mean seedling length (48.28 cm), mean seedling dry weight (47.33 mg), seedling vigour index-I (4137), seedling vigour index -II (4112), lower electrical conductivity (1.07 mS ppt-1), total dehydrogenase activity (3.30 A480nm) and total soluble protein (23.19%) recorded higher in F2N1 (75% RDF + 12.5% WSF (19: 19:19) + nipping) over control (81.42%, 44.59 cm, 41.67 mg seedling-1, 3724, 3346, 1.44 mS ppt-1, 2.22 A480nm, 20.22 %,) respectively.