Effect of different sowing dates and nipping on growth and yield of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L Millsp.)

The field experiment was carried out on the deep black soil of the College of Agriculture, Badnapur, during kharif 2022-2023, on the pigeonpea variety BDN 711 in a split plot design with three replications and twelve treatment combinations. The study consisted of three sowing dates: D1 (26th meteorological week), D2 (28th meteorological week), and D3 (31st meteorological week) as main plots and Subplots included N0 (no nipping), N1 (nipping at 45 DAS), N2 (nipping at 60 DAS), and N3 (nipping at 45 and 60 DAS). The study found that the 26th M.W. (D1) had significantly higher growth characteristics such as plant height, number of primary and secondary branches (plant-1), dry matter (plant-1), and plant spread. The plants with no nipping (N0) were the tallest (137.83 cm), while those with 60 DAS nipping (N2) were the shortest. Nipping between 45 and 60 DAS (N3) produced the most branches plant-1, dry matter plant-1, and plant spread plant-1. Early sowing (26th M.W., D1) and nipping at 45 and 60 DAS (N3) increased yield-attributing traits and overall productivity in pigeonpea. The D1N3 (26th M.W. with nipping at 45 and 60 DAS) treatment consistently produced the highest grain, stalk, and biological yields, while The D3N0 (31st M.W. with no nipping) had the lowest values, indicating the significance of timely sowing and nipping for maximum yields.