Redgram

Nutrient Management

Manure and Fertilizers

• Pigeonpea requires heavy doses of the nutrients, hence care should be taken that the crop does not suffer due to lack of nutrients. A crop of pigeonpea yielding 2 t/ha grains and 5.4 t/ha sticks removed 115 kg N and 16 kg P on sandy loam soils of AIRI. Various agronomic factors (Cultural, manurial and cropping system) influence the uptake of nutrients.

Nitrogen

• Being a legume, it does not require much nitrogenous fertilizers. However, there is general agreement that a starter dose of 10-30 kg N/ha gives positive response in most of the soils depending upon the initial N status of the soil. On sandy loam soils which are poro in N and organic matter, a starter dose of 20-25 kg N/ha has increased the yield.
• On the red and laterite soils of Medak, red soils of Sundergarh, mixed red and black soils of Phulbani districts, the responses of pigeonpea to 20 kg N/ha ranged from 1,40-5.20 q/ha over control yields ranging from 3 to 6 q/ha. A response of 6.70 q/ha over control yield of 4.90 q/ha in Medak with variety Hy.3C. Positive response of rabi pigeonpea 'Bahar' to 40-60 kg/ha in Bihar.

Culture

• Soils with high fertility do not response to culture. However, light textured soil with low in organic matter content, newly reclaimed, eroded and flooded lands show positive response to culture.
• The necessity of seed inoculation with culture for legume, which is grown for the first time in a field, has been known for a number of year. More effect strain of Rhizobia can increase yield and protein content of legume to an extent of 20 per cent.

Phosphorus

• The importance of adequate supply of phosphorus for higher yields of pigeonpea has long been recognized. In one of the earliest experiments. Good response of pigeonpea to phosphorus fertilization in Hawaii specially in upland and also recommended a dose of 350 to 1000 kg/ha of acidulated rockphosphate.
• In India, responses to phosphorus have been generally positive and in some cases highly significant realised that phosphorus improved all growth and yield attributes, root and nodule development. 15.0 and 27.5 q/ha of grain yield without and with 60 kg P₂O₅/ha, respectively. However, further increase in the level of phosphorus did not increase the yield

Potassium

• Pigeonpea normally do not respond to potassium application unless grown on the soils low in available potassium.
• However, on cultivators fields, the response to 20 kg K₂O₃/ha over 20 kg N + 40 kg P₂O₅/ha ranged from 0.90-2.0 q/ha except in Jalaun district where there was no response to potassium.

Micronutrients

• The work on the response of pigeonpea to micro nutrients has been very limited. Most of pigeonpea cultivars show susceptibility to zinc deficiency. Soil application of 2-4 ppm zinc or foliar spray of 0.5 per cent zinc-sulphate with 0.05 per cent lime has proved effective in controlling zinc deficiency.
• Agrawal observed varietal differences in pigeonpea of Zn deficiency. He found that varieties Pant A-3 and Prabhat were more tolerant to Zn deficiency than other v arieties.

Fertilizer recommendation of Redgram in Karnataka

Introduction

• Fertilizer application is one of the important input for realising genetic potential for pulses. Redgram respond well to phosphatic fertilization. Soils having low to medium available P content, responds to 40 to 60 kg P₂O₅ per ha. At Bangalore application of 5o kg P₂O₅/ha increased the yield by 4.5 q/ha.
• Responses to seed inoculation with rhizobium culture and starter dose of nitrogen (20-25 kg N/ha) were marginal. Starter dose of nitrogen is essential in poor soils and in intensive cultivated land. About 100 kg DAP/ha may be placed 4 to 5 cm away from the seed row with a depth of 8 to 10 cm to increase the efficiency.

	Zone 4, 5, 6		Zone 7 & 8
Fertilizer recommendation:	Nitrogen Phosphorus Potasium	25 kg/ha 50 kg/ha 25 kg/ha	25 kg/ha 50 kg/ha 0 kg/ha
FYM or compost		7.5 tons/ha	7.5 tons/ha
Seed	Pure crop Mixed crop Rhizobium Spacing	15 kg/ha 7.5 kg/ha 375kg/ha 90 or 60 X 22.5 cm	10-12 kg/ha 5-8kg/ha 375 kg/ha 60 X 30 cm

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Methods of application of Rhizobium

• Rhizobium biofertilizer is usually treated to the legumes seeds just before sowing. In some cases it is also applied as liquid or granular inoculum directly to soil in furrows.
• Each packet usually contains 150 g of Biofertilizer (black material) approximately sufficient to treat 10 kg of seeds (tobe sown in one acre). More than one packet may be used per acre if required, depending on the seed rate and size of the seeds.
• Firstly, prepare any one of the following adhesive solution:
• Dissolve 25 g of sugar (three tea-spoonful) or jaggary in quarter liter of water (two tea cups) and boil for 5 minutes. Cool the solution to room temperature. OR
• Dissolve 100 g of granulated gum-arabic (white coloured) in quarter litre of hot water. Cool the gum solution.
• Note: Some manufacturers provide the sticker solution powder in small packet along with the inoculant packet.
• Transfer 150 g of biofertilizer from the packet to only required quantity of adhesive solution taken in a small container and makes a thick slurry. About 20-30 ml (4 to 6 tea spoonful) adhesive solution is required approximately to treat 1 kg of seeds depending upon the seed size.
• Pour the slurry over the seeds taken in a container (plastic bucket or basin) with simultaneous mixing to give a uniform black coating over the entire surface of each seed. Take care not to damage the seed coat. If large quantity of seeds to be treated a drum mixer can be used.
• Spread the inoculated seeds on a clean paper or gunny bag in cool shady place and allow to dry (1/2 hour). Sow the seeds immediately after drying.

Precautions

• Store the Rhizobium biofertilizer in cool, dry place away from direct sun and heat.
• Use biofertilizer before the expiry date, given on the packet.
• Rhizobium biofertilizer should be used only for the crop/crops mentioned on the packet.
• Do not transfer biofertilizer to hot adhesive solution while preparing the slurry.
• Seed dressing fungicides and insecticides can be treated to seed at only recommended doses either before or after inoculation with Rhizobium biofertilizer. It is preferable to use double the recommended dose of inoculant in such cases. However, it is preferable to apply Rhizobium biofertilizer directly in furrows when seeds are treated with pesticides.
• There is usually no need to add any nitrogenous fertilizers when Rhizobium biofertilizer is used to legume crops. In low fertile soils smell doses of fertilizer nitrogen may be applied, at the time of sowing. However, phosphatic fertilizer should be applied at recommended dose. Phosphatic fertilizer should be placed away from the inoculated seeds. Potash may be also added if recommended.
• For any additional information kindly write to the Microbiologist, Department of Microbiology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore-560065.

Benefits from Rhizobium biofertilizers

• Supplies nitrogen to legume crop.
• Low cost technology
• Saves cost on nitrogen fertilizer
• Improves soil fertility
• Improves yield of cereal intercrop
• Improves yield of cereal rotation crop.
• Nitrogen fixation needs adequate phosphorus fertilisation.
• Control legume root-nodule eating insects for higher nitrogen fixation.
• Rhizobium inoculation is a low cost technology.
• Use Rhizobium save urea.
• Optimum soil moisture for higher nitrogen fixation.
• Air has 35,000 tonnes nitrogen over an acre of land, you can use it only with the help of microbes.
• Legume protein is solar protein.
• Rhizobium uses solar energy for nitrogen fixation.