Sudhir Kumar et al. 54 Effect of phosphorus and sulphur fertilization on productivity and nutrient uptake of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) Sudhir Kumar*, Subodh Kumar 1 , Omkar Singh 2 and B.P. Singh 3 Department of Agronomy, Janta Vedic (P.G.) College, Baraut, Baghpat -250611 (Uttar Pradesh) 1,3 Department of Agronomy, R. B.S. College, Bichpuri Agra (Uttar Pradesh) 2 Department of Ag. Botany, R. K. (P.G.) College, Shamli (Uttar Pradesh) *e-mail: sudhirbhora77@yahoo.in Received : June 2013; Revised accepted : November 2013 ABSTRACT A field experiment was conducted at Baraut (U.P.) to study the effect of phosphorus and sulphur fertilization on pigeonpea during kharif season of 2008 and 2009. Application of 80 kg P 2 O 5 /ha and 60 kg S/ha with PSB inoculation significantly improved growth and yield attributes and seed yield of pigeonpea. Uptake of N, P, K and S also increased with application of phosphorus (up to 80 P 2 O 5 /ha) and sulphur (up to 60 kg S/ha) and PSB inoculation. Mean increases in seed and straw yield with 80 kg P 2 O 5 ha -1 were 27.72 and 14.10%, respectively, over control. Similarly, 30 kg S ha -1 increased the seed and straw yield by 21.02 and 10.20%. Key words: Growth, pigeonpea, nutrient uptake, phosphorus, PSB, sulphur, yield. Ann. Agric. Res. New Series Vol. 35 (1) : 54-57 (2014) Pigeonpea is the fifth prominent grain legume crop in the world and holds second position in India after chickpea. It is mainly eaten in the form of split pulse as dal. Besides this, in the tribal areas of various states, the use of pigeonpea as green vegetable is very common (Saxena et al., 2010). The crushed dry seeds are feed of animals, while green leaves are used as a quality fodder. The dry stems of pigeonpea make an excellent fuel wood. Phosphorus in an important plant nutrient and it affects seed germination, cell division, flowering, fruiting, synthesis of fat, starch and infact most biochemical activities. Some heterotrophic bacteria (Bacillus spp.) are known to have the ability to solubilize phosphorus from insoluble sources. Phosphate solubilizing microbes help in the solubilization of phosphorus from rock phosphate and sparingly soluble from to native soil phosphorus by certing organic acids. Crop requires as much sulphur as they do phosphorus. Sulphur deficiency is increased due to intensive cropping, use of high yielding varieties and continuous use of sulphur free, high analysis fertilizers. Information on nutrient management in pigeonpea is lacking in Meerut region of Uttar Pradesh. So much so, multi- nutrient approach along with biofertilizer in a crop seems to be rational at a time of high prices of chemical fertilizers. Keeping these considerations in view, the present study was undertaken to estimate the effect of phosphorus and sulphur fertilization on productivity and nutrient uptake of pigeonpea. MATERIALS AND METHODS An experiment was conducted during the kharif season of 2008 and 2009 at the Research Farm of Janta Vedic College, Baraut, U.P. Soil was sandy clay loam with pH 7.5, organic carbon 5.5 g kg -1 , available N 238 kg/ha, available P 17 kg ha -1 and available K 246 kg/ha. The treatment combinations were derived from five levels of phosphorus (0, PSB, 40, 40+PSB, 80 kg P 2 O 5 ha -1 ) and three levels of sulphur (0, 30, 60 kg S ha -1 ).