2024, Vol. 7, Issue 6, Part F

author(s)
PA Sarap, Ashvini Dahak, SS Hadole, AB Aage, MD Sarode, YA Reddy and SD Nandukar

abstract
The field experiment entitled “Agronomic fortification of zinc enhances the growth, yield and quality of different genotypes of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) on swell – shrink soil” was conducted during Kharif season 2022-23 at Pigeon pea Breeding Field, Central Research Station, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola. The experiment was laid out in Split-Plot Design and fifteen treatments combination comprised of five main-plots (pigeon pea genotypes) and three sub-plots (zinc levels). The pigeon pea genotypes were AKTE 1905(G₁), AKTE 1904(G₂), AKTE 16-12(G₃), AKTE 19-01(G₄) and AKT 8811(G₅). The zinc levels were recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) (Z₀), RDF with soil application of Zn @ 5 kg Zn ha^-1 at the time of sowing (Z₁) and RDF with foliar spraying of ZnSO₄ @ 0.5% at branching and flowering stage (Z₂). The results of the present investigation in interaction between genotypes and zinc levels revealed that significantly highest seed yield (24.73 q ha^-1) of AKTE 1905 and straw yield 52.83(q ha^-1) of AKTE 16-12 was recorded in combination with the soil application of 5 kg Zn ha^-1 through ZnSO₄ at the time of sowing. The interaction between different genotypes and zinc levels on growth and quality parameters are non-significant.