Effect of Planting Dates on the Performance of Pigeonpea Varieties in Southern Guinea Savanna Ecology of Nigeria.

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted for two years (May, 2011 to February, 2012 and May, 2012 to February, 2013) at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi. The objective of the study was to investigate the performance of some improved pigeonpea varieties planted at different dates with a view of selecting the optimal date(s) of planting for each of the varieties. The experiment comprised of thee  planting dates (25th day of each month of May, June and July) as main plot treatments and six pigeonpea varieties (ICPL332, ICPL87119, ICPL187-1, ICPL84060, ICPL88039 and a local check, var.’igbongbo’) as sub-plot treatments. The experiment was laid out as split plot in randomized complete block design with three replications. The plant height of all the varieties of pigeonpea tested decreased from May planting to July planting, except in ICPL88039, which had erratic response. Planting date x variety interaction effects on plant height, number of pods per plant, pod weight, grain and straw weight were significant, indicating the varieties performed better at different planting dates,e.g.,ICPL84060 and the local check performed better in May planting, while ICPL332 and ICPL187-1 gave higher yields in July planting.

Keywords: Planting date, Variety, Pigeonpea, Makurdi