Effects of micronutrients on growth and yield of pigeonpea

Abstract

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) is an important pulse crop of rainfed agriculture and a principal source of protein in the Indian diet. Rainfed soils are generally degraded with poor native fertility. Mineral nutrient deficiencies limit nitrogen fixation by the legume-rhizobium symbiosis, resulting in low legume yields. Nutrient limitations to legume production result from deficiencies of not only major nutrients but also micronutrients such as molybdenum (Mo), zinc (Zn), boron (B) and iron (Fe) (Bhuiyan et al. 1999). Inadequate nodulation of pigeonpea can be associated with low plant available Mo. Increase in flower numbers, pod set improvement, and reduction in days to flowering are influenced by Mo (Prasad et al. 1998). Application of recommended doses of fertilizers (RDF), the major, secondary and micronutrients, to