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Growth, development and yield of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) in the lowland tropics:1. Effect of plant population density

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

T. O. Tayo
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Biology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

Summary

The growth, development and yield of pigeon pea (cv. Cita-1) grown at three population densities of 27 000, 55000 and 83000 plants/ha were evaluated in two field trials during the growing season of 1980.

The results obtained showed that there was a progressive reduction in the developmentv per plant of vegetative characters, dry-matter accumulation and yield characters as population density increased. The calculated growth rates (net assimilation rate, crop growth rate, relative growth rate and leaf area ratio) were more or less the same at all population densities. The yields of seeds were 0·39 and 0·51 t/ha for the lowest population density, 0·43 and 0·65 t/ha for the medium population density and 0·58 and 0·75 t/ha for the highest population density for the two trials respectively.

It would seem, therefore, that under the prevailing lowland humid tropical conditions, a population density of at least 80000 plants/ha would be needed to ensure maximum productivity in the sole cropping of pigeon pea.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1982

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References

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