A field experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture, Vijayapura, to study the effect of sowing time and
planting geometry on growth and yield of pigeonpea in Northern Dry Zone (Zone 3) of Karnataka during 2015-16. There
were 16 treatments consisting of combinations of four sowing times viz., June II fortnight, July I fortnight, July II fortnight and
August I fortnight and four planting geometries viz., 90 cm x 20 cm, 120 cm x 20 cm, 150 cm x 20 cm and 180 cm x 20 cm. The
experiment was laid out in split-plot design and replicated thrice. The experimental results revealed that, the growth and
yield of pigeon pea were significantly influenced by sowing time. Pigeonpea sown during June II fortnight recorded
significantly higher grain yield (1311 kg ha-1) compared to pigeonpea sown during July I fortnight (1151 kg ha-1), July II
fortnight (212 kg ha-1) and August I fortnight (264 kg ha-1). Similarly, different planting geometries influenced the grain yield
of pigeonpea significantly. Pigeonpea sown at planting geometry of 90 cm x 20 cm produced significantly higher grain yield
of 859 kg ha-1 as compared to other planting geometries, but it was on par with 120 cm x 20 cm (777 kg ha-1) planting
geometry. Interactions of sowing time and planting geometries influenced both the grain yield and economics of pigeonpea.
Pigeonpea sown during June II fortnight with planting geometry of 90 cm x 20 cm recorded significantly higher grain yield
(1537 kg ha-1), net returns (` 1,15,664 ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (6.10) over other interactions, but it was on par with crop
sown during same period with 120 cm x 20 cm planting geometry (1400 kg ha-1, ` 1,03,304 ha-1 and 5.56, respectively).