EFFECT OF SEASON ON SEED YIELD AND QUALITY OF PIGEONPEA UNDER DRIP FERTIGATION

Seasonal and drip fertigation effects on seed production were investigated at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, during Kharif 2010 and Summer 2011to study the effect of season under surface drip fertigation on the seed yield and quality of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) cv. VBN3 found that drip fertigation scheduled once in six days and foliar application provided at 45, 55 & 65 DAS, the growth and yield attributes were higher in 100 per cent SRDF as WSF with foliar feeding with 0.5 per cent Zinc Sulphate (F3FS1) and lowest with 50per cent SRDF as WSF through drip in both season. Between the seasons, Kharif crop recorded 15.2 per cent higher seed yield over Summerwhen compared to normal soil application of fertilizers. The increased in seed yield with 100 per cent SRDF as WSF with foliar feeding with 0.5 per cent Zinc Sulphate was mainly due to greater and consistent availability of nutrients, growth hormones and soil moisture which leads to better crop growth, seed yield components and eventually reflected on the seed yield. Seed production is greatest for the Kharif season