Yield and Yield Components of Pigeon pea (Cajanuscajan(L.) Millsp) as Affected by Planting Density

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out to examine the effect of population density on yield, yield components, and associated parameters of two pigeon pea (Cajanuscajan) varieties. The treatment consisted of two varieties of viz. ICPL 87091 and ICP 15027 with determinate and indeterminate growth habits, respectively, and five planting densities viz., 166666, 200000, 250000, 333333 and 500000 plants ha-1. A split-plot design with variety as the main plot factor and population density as sub-plot factor were used, and the treatments were replicated thrice. Results showed no significant difference in grain yield and aboveground biomass yield ha-1 between the two varieties while a significant difference was observed in yield components (branches per plant, pod per plant, seed per pod, and 100-seed weight). The effect of plant density on grain and aboveground biomass yields were significant (P < 0.05) and the higher plant densities (i.e., 500000 and 333333 plants ha-1) produced higher grain yield (i.e., 3.78 and 3.5 t ha-1, respectively) than the lower plant densities (i.e., 250000, 200000 and 166666 plants ha-1). While total biomass increased with increasing population density with the highest (19.00t ha-1) and the lowest (9.17 t ha-1) biomass were obtained at the highest (500000 plants ha-1) and the lowest population density (166666 plants ha-1), respectively. The observed higher productivity under increasing population density was related to the positive (enhancing) effect of population density on yield components and leaf area index (LAI).The parameters including a leaf area, pod number, dry matter, and branch number per plant have decreased with increasing population density and this was the reverse of what has been observed for these parameters on per unit area basis. Because of the absence of significant difference for grain yield between the two the upper most densities, ease of management, the economy of seed, and lower labor cost, a density of 333333 plant ha-1 could be preferred to be used in the test area.

Keywords: pigeon pea, planting density, variety, yield, yield components