Pigeon pea

INTRODUCTION
• Pigeon pea(Cajanus cajan) is commonly known as red gram or arhar
• It belongs to the family leguminosae and genus Cajanus .
• It is a perennial , warm seasonal crop but modern variety as annual or biennial .
• It is most drought tolerant crop among pulses.
• In Nepal Rahar daal is considered as king of dal.
• It is known as Protein Power House.
• This peas are dried split into two rounds and skins are removed.

Uses
Seeds of arhar are rich in Iron and Iodine.
It is useful in Liver Protection if consumed regularly.
Leafy Twigs are used in Green manures, providing upto 90 kg nitrogen per hectare. The woody stem of pigeon peas can also be used as
firewood ,fencing and thatch.
• Seed of arhar are rich in Iron and iodine. They are also rich in essential amino acid like Lysine, tyrosine , Cystine and arginine.
• Leaves can be used for animal feed and fodder .
• Helps in agro ecology.
• In hill farming reduce soil erosion ,permits multiple harvest and browsing.
Origin and History
It is originated in eastern part of India(Peninsula).
Some Author favors African origin.
It is mainly found in the upper region of the Nile river and coastal District of angula.
Australia with 15 wild species of which 13 or endemic, is another centre of diversity.

Area and Distribution

It is grown throughout the Tropical country of the world especially.
It is cultivated over an area of 17006 hectare in case of Nepal.
Mostly grown in Banke,Bardiya,Kailali, Rupandehi,Kapilvastu,Sarlhai,Dhanusha,Mahottari district
CLASSIFICATION
.Classification is done on the basis of morphology and crop duration
1.Cajanus cajan var. bicolour
.late maturing (240-270) days, heavily branched, tall(upto 4m), perennial shrubs ,yellow
flowers with purple or red streaks .
.flowering during December to February
2.Cajanus cajan var.flavus
.early maturing (155-165days) ,annual shrubs ,smaller plants,yellow flower, plain pods
with two to three seeds .
flowering during September to November

All the types under both the groups have 2n=22 chromosomes.
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
ROOT SYSTEM
Root system of pigeon pea consists of central tap root with numerous lateral and secondary branches.
The length of lateral root differs with the variety usually tall upright varieties produce longer and more
deeply penetrating roots whereas spreading types produce shallower more spreading and deeper roots.

LEAVES
Trifoliately compound, central leaflet longer than lateral ones
Leaflet densely silky, stipules small, lamina hairy
Length, size, shape and texture of leaflets differ with varieties

INFLORESCENCE
Axillary raceme
Flowers are distinctly papillionaceous
Flowers are self pollinated, pollination takes place before the flower open(cleistogamous)
Cross fertilization may also occur to some extent

PODS
Length varies from 5-10cm, width from 0.6-0.9cm
Vary in colour from green to dark brown
Tips pointing downwards
Usually 4-5 seeds in each pods in late maturing varieties and 2-3 in early maturing varieties
SEEDS
Differ in size, shape and colour
Round or lens shaped
Colour of seed coat: dirty white to silver white, light brown to chestnut brown, dark mottled to brown and pinkish
black and the cotyledons yellow coloured.

CLIMATIC REQUIREMENT
It is moist and warm weather plant
Pigeon pea is well grown in between 18◦C to 29◦C
It requires slightly lower temperature during active vegetative growth; and 15◦C-18◦C during flowering and pod setting
and higher temperature i.e. 35◦C-40◦C at maturity
They are sensitive to water logging condition
Tropical and sub tropical regions are most suitable
They are highly susceptible to frost

SOIL
It is grown well on wide range of soil varying from sandy loam to clayey loam.
Suitable pH is 4.5-8.4 i.e. slightly acidic
Well drained, alluvial and loamy soil
Saline, alkaline and water log situation is unfit
Very deep, well drained and free from soluble salt
Several improved varieties are found. Some of the varieties are Bageshwori, chanki, ICP-7035, ICPL-84072, pajawa,
pusa14, pusa 9, Rampur, rahar-1, etc.
The top yielding genotypes across the location for summer planting are ICPL-850367, pusa 9, lalbandi local, bahar and
pusa 14

CROPPING PATTERN
Being a deep rooted crop,it is very suited for mixed cropping and intercropping with shallow rooted crop
Initial growth slow upto 60-70 days(grand growth stage)

FIELD PREPARATION
Red gram or toor dal being a deep rooted crop respond well to proper tilth. So land is prepared by at least one ploughing
during the dry season followed by two or three harrowing and disc ploughing. Seed bed should be well leveled so that
water stagnation doesnot take place.

SEED AND SOWING

Pigeon pea should be sown in the first fortnight of June with pre-sowing irrigation. Sowing should not be delayed beyond
June. Delay in sowing will cause reduction of yield.
Method of sowing: Line sowing, sowing behind the local plough
Line sowing is superior over broadcasting.
Seed rate: 12-15kg/ha
Spacing: row to row=60cmx75cm; plant to plant=15cmx20cm
Spacing generally depends upon genotype,type of crossing(sole intercrop) , moisture availability, etc.
Tall and medium long var: 60-75×20-30cm
Dwarf and early duration: 40-50×15-20
For Rainfed : 90×30 cm
Seed treatment: Seeds are treated with Bavistin(Carbendazim- 2kg per kg seeds

MANURE AND FERTILIZATION

WATER MANGEMENT

Generally grown in rainfed area

Critical stage :
Flower initiation
Pod hill stage
Water requirement is 550 to 600mm at high plant density
Use of water 200 to 210 mm for 1 ton grain
Normally 2 to 3 irrigation
Pre-sowing irrigation for early sown @500 to 600 cu.m/ha

WEED MANAGEMENT
90% yield may reduce if timely not controlled
Manual weeding or hand weeding should be done twice (1 st at 25-30 DAS and 2nd 45 to 50 DAS)
Application of pre-emergence herbicide i.e.Alachor (3lit./per ha.)
Fluchloralin at the rate of 1kg a.i.per hacter
Water Management
It is largely grown as rainfed crop.
Critical stage for irrigation is:
Flower initiation
Pod filling stage
Red gram grown in kharif does not require irrigation.
No water Stagnant.
Water Requirement is 550-600nm for high plant density.
Use of water: 200-250nm water for 1 ton
Pre sowing irrigation for early sown @500-600 cu.m\ha
Normally 2-3 irrigation is done.

Weed Management
Two hand weeding or manual weeding must be done sowing of the crop.
Two mechanical weeding is required.
Once about 25-30 days
Another about 45-50 days.
Where Hand weeding is not possible, use of Basalin at the rate of 1.0 litre\ha as pre sown.
Pre-emergence application of Lasso at the rate of litre per hac kills the seedling of weeds for the first 50 days.
In case of Lasso is not available use of Fluchloralin (Basalin) 1kg a.i per hectare in 800-1000litre of water as preplanting spray
If weeds are not controlled in time,it cause upto 90% reduction in seed yield.
The major Weeds are
Cyperus rotundus , Echinochlona spp , Digitaria , Euphorbia , Commenial
Suppression of weeds: High Plant density of short duration var or intercropping with cereals legumes eg Piegon pea+ Mung
Disease
a) Wilt: It is caused by Fungus Fusarium Oxysprium
The symptom of disease is Leaf become yellow, drop and finally the whole plant dry out.
Control: Crop rotation with Jowar and arhar and and collecting and burning the plant trashes left after harvesting.
Eg Amar,Azad , BDN-1 BDN-2
b) Stem Rot: Phytopthara dreschslerivar (ajani)
Brown lesion on the stem near the stem near the soil surface.
c) Canker: Fungi

HARVESTING AND STORING

Harvesting is done generally at the full or 2/3rd maturity of pod(pod becomes brown)
Done with sickle within 7.5 to 25cm above the ground level and best possible second harvesting by hand picking
Compare to hand picking cutting delay second harvest and result lower yield
Seed and pod ratio=50:60
Threshed, cleaned, sun dried
Grains are stored at moisture level 10 to 11%.
YIELD:
Av.yield ranges from 20-25 quintals of grain/ha and
50-60 quintals of stick/ha