Effect of irrigation scheduling and nutrition on yield attributes, pod yield and economics of summer cowpea

摘要

A field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, Ladol, Gujarat, India, on summer cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) to study the Effect of irrigation scheduling and nutrition on yield attributes, yield and economics. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with four replications during summer season (March to June), 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16. The experiment consisted three irrigation treatments viz. IW/CPE ratio 0.8, 1.0 & 1.2 and three fertility levels namely, 100% RDF (25:50:00 NPK kg/ha), 100% RDF + Rhizobium + PSB and 75% RDF + Rhizobium + PSB. Among the different irrigation levels crop irrigated at 1.2 IW/CPE ratio recorded significantly higher pod numbers/plant (-51), pod weight/plant (206.9 g), length ofpod (14.2 cm) and pod yield (10.79 t/ha) of cowpea as compared to IW/CPE ratio of 0.8. The increase in green pod yield of cowpea due the application of irrigation water at 1.2 IW/CPE ratio was 31% and 4% higher compared to crop irrigated at 0.8 IW/CPE ratio and 1.0 IW/CPE ratio, respectively. Cowpea fertilized with 100% RDF + Rhizobium + PSB produced the significantly higher yield of green pod (10.34 t/ ha) over 100% RDF (25:50:00 NPK kg/ha) (9.06 t/ha) and remain at par with 75% RDF + Rhizobium + PSB (10.02 t/ha). The pod yield increased with the application of 100% RDF + Rhizobium + PSB was 14% and 3% higher as compared to 100% RDF and 75% RDF + Rhizobium + PSB, respectively. Cowpea irrigated at IW/CPE ratio of 1.0 and fertilized with 100% RDF + Rhizobium + PSB had resulted in highest net benefit: cost ratios of 2.74 and 2.70, respectively.