Journal of Scientific Research and Reports

A field trial was carried out at College Farm, Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, in 2016-17 and 2017-18 to assess applied phosphorus, residual phosphorus and defoliant use on pigeonpea-maize cropping systems. The study included phosphorus levels and defoliant (i.e Defoliant (urea) spray @10% at physiological maturity stage) treatments to evaluate effects on growth parameters, yield and economics. The findings of the study indicated T₂ (20:50:0 N:P₂O5:K₂O kg ha^-1) produced the superior growth parameters, yield, and economics over the two years. T₂ had the greatest plant height at 30, 60, 90 DAS and at harvest, number of branches per plant and leaf area index. The highest seed yield (1567 kg ha^-1 in 2016 and 1605 kg ha^-1 in 2017) and stalk yield (5944 kg ha^-1 and 6149 kg ha^-1 respectively) were obtained at T₂ followed by T4 (20:75:0 :P₂O5:K₂O kg ha^-1) in pigeonpea. The highest grain yields (7329 kg ha^-1 and 7498 kg ha^-1, respectively) in maize during the rabi season were obtained from 75 kg P ha^-1 + defoliant treatment, followed closely by 50 kg P ha^-1 + defoliant treatments. Stover yields followed a similar trend which indicates there was a benefit to applying phosphorus and using defoliant to maximise crop production. When phosphorus and a defoliant are used, it enhances the growth of pigeonpeas and maize, compared to when neither was used, further enhancing profitability, and indicating a positive response in the pigeonpea-maize cropping system.