Radiation use efficiency and growth performance of Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) under rainfed condition

A research experiment was conducted in Kharif2024-25 at Research farm AICRP Agrometeorology, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani to study radiation use efficiency on pigeon pe with respect to different dates of sowing and varieties during Kharif season. The field experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replications. There were 36 treatment combinations comprising of four sowing dates viz., D1(25thSMW), D2(26thSMW), D3(27thSMW) and D4(28thSMW) as main plot treatments and three varieties viz., V1(BDN-711), V2(BDN-716) and V3(GODAVARI) as sub plot treatments. It was found that D1(25thSMW) gave significant results in photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), radiation use efficiency (RUE), yield and yield components which were due to efficient GDD than other dates of sowing. Similarly, variety V2(BDN-716) performed significantly better than V1(BDN-711) and V3(GODAVAR in yield and radiation use efficiency.