Effect of simulated soil salinity conditions and varieties of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) on growth, yield and yield attributes

Abstract

Globally salinity is a major problem in arid and coastal areas. Due to climate change soil salinization is spreading drastically and because of availability of lack of freshwater, it is spreading worldwide faster. Salt has a potentially harsh impact on leguminous crops, which ultimately decreases straw yield, seed yield, growth parameters and protein content. In the present study, the effect of five salinity levels (Control, 40, 60, 80 and 100 meq l-1) and four pigeon pea varieties (V1: GJP-1, V2: Vaishali, V3: BDN-2, V4: AGT-2) were measured on seed yield, straw yield, different growth parameters and protein content. Application of different levels of salinity significantly affected growth, yield attributes and yield, quality, uptake of nutrients, available nutrients and soil properties after harvest of pigeon pea crop. The results showed that the highest value of germination %, days to 50% flowering, plant height, number of branches plant-1, pod length, number of pods plant-1, number of seed pod-1, seed and straw yield were observed with salinity level S1 (Control). The quality parameters like protein content and test weight were found the highest in salinity level S1 (Control).