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A field trial was conducted to assess the performance of blackgram cultivars to row spacings and molybdenum doses at the Instructional-cum-Research Farm, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalya, Raipur (Chhattisgarh), under rainfed conditions during kharif season of 2011. The treatments comprised of three varieties viz., Indra urd-1, RU-03-16 and RU-03-52; two row spacings viz., 30x10 cm and 45 x 10 cm and three treatments of molybdenum viz., control, 4 g/kg seed and 4 g/kg seed + two spray of urea @ 2%. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design (FRBD) with three replications. Results revealed that all the growth and yield attibutes such as number of branches/plant, number of leaves/plant, seeds/plant, seed yield (781 kg/ha), biological yield (2736 kg/ha) and harvest index (29.71%) noticed significantly higher under cultivar Indra urd-1. Similarly, maximum production efficiency (9.52 kg/ha/day), economic efficiency (Rs. 218.82/ha/day) and gross returns (Rs. 32,335/ha) were also recorded in Indra urd-1 as compared to rest of the cultivars. Further results showed that all the growth and yield attributes viz., number of branches/plant, number of leaves/plant, seeds/plant, seed yield (778 kg/ha), biological yield (2653 kg/ha) and harvest index (29.10%) recorded significantly higher in row spacing of 30 x 10 cm as compared to 45 x 10 cm. Maximum production efficiency (9.49 kg/ha/day), economic efficiency (Rs. 216.44/ha/day) and gross returns (Rs. 32,107/ha) were also recorded in 30 x 10 cm. Application of molybdenum @ 4 g/kg seed along with 2% urea spray twice gave highest seed yield (810 kg/ha), biological yield (2698 kg/ha) and harvest index (29.25%) over control and seed treatment with molybdenum @ 4 g/kg. Similarly, application of molybdenum + 2% urea spray twice gave maximum production efficiency (9.88 kg/ha/day), economic efficiency (Rs. 226.49/ha/day) and gross returns (Rs. 33,293/ha).

India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses in the world accounting for about 29 per cent of the world area and 19 per cent of the world’s production. In order to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses, the projected requirement by the year 2025 is estimated at 27.5 MT. To meet this requirement, the productivity needs to be enhanced to 1000 kg/ha, and an additional area of about 3-4 Mha has to be brought under pulses besides reducing post-harvest losses. This uphill task has to be accomplished under more severe production constraints, especially abiotic stresses, abrupt climatic changes, emergence of new species/ strains of insect-pests and diseases, and in-creasing deficiency of secondary and micronutrients in the soil. This requires a two-pronged proactive strategy, i.e. improving per unit productivity and reducing cost of production. The yield levels of pulses have remained low and stagnant, also area and total production. Among the pulses pigeon pea is second most important grain-legumes and major constraints in pigeon pea production is mostly grown in grown on marginal lands under rainfed agriculture and without nutrient management, hence are prone to abiotic stresses. Therefore, it is essential for higher production and productivity of pigeon pea, use of high yielding varieties which suitable for intercrop as well as sole cropping system with best nutrient management practices.