Pigeon Pea Green Manuring and Nitrogen Fertilization Increase Agronomic Efficiency by Improving Yield and Ear Characteristics of Maize

Abstract

Green legume incorporation is an encouraging, at least unfinished, substitute for chemical fertilizers, particularly for nitrogen (N). The experiment was conducted in an RCB design with a split plot arrangement replicated four times. Pigeon pea green manuring (GM) of 3.4, 6.3 and 7.3 t ha^-1 at pre flowering (GM1), at flowering (GM2) and post flowering (GM3) were assigned to the main plots, respectively, and nitrogen levels (N) (0, 70, 100 and 130 kg N ha^-1) were allotted to the subplots. Results showed that GM2 significantly improved plant height (183 cm) and leaf area (393.6 cm²). Whereas, GM1 significantly enhanced biological yield (9826 kg ha^-1), grain yield (3500 kg ha^-1), thousand grain weight (203.6 g), grain ear^-1(319), ear length (18 cm) and ear diameter (11.4 cm) as compared to GM2. Similarly, nitrogen application at the rate of 130 kg ha^-1 resulted in taller plants, higher leaf area, thousand grain weight, biological and grain yields, harvest index, grains ear^-1, ear height, length, weight and diameter than other N levels. The agronomic efficiency (AE) was significantly increased by 13.8 kg kg^-1 and 11.8 kg kg^-1 at GM1 and 70 kg N ha^-1, respectively. It was concluded from the outcomes of the study that pigeon pea GM at pre flowering stage and 130 kg N ha^-1 improved maize crop production.