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Prospects of rabi pigeonpea cultivation

UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, RAICHUR

DEPARTMENT OF AGRONOMY

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, RAICHUR

 

 

 

NAME: GIRAMALLAPPA B. TUPPAD

ID. NO. PGS 08 AGR 4856                                                                             
DATE: 20-11-2009
TIME: 2.15 PM

SYNOPSIS

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) is mainly cultivated as a rainfed inter or mixed crop during rainy season in the country. Inspite of adoption of high yield potential varieties recommended for cultivation of pigeonpea across the country, the average yield is less than 300 kg/ha (Naidu, 1997). One of the major constraints identified is, pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) as there is not a single variety which can resist the aforesaid pest incidence in rainy season. To overcome this menace, pigeonpea may be grown as a post rainy season crop for this pest as it will be in the declining phase when the crop comes to flowering during January. Since, the area under post-rainy season (winter) crop is increasing, this led researchers to find out water requirement for winter season pigeonpea crop as water is a limiting factor during post-rainy season. This necessitates the need to find out irrigation schedule of the crop and the response of crop to different levels of water supply at different developmental stages.

Nagamani et al. (1995) on sandy loam soil at Bapatla observed that, the seed yield of pigeonpea variety, ICPL-8863 (11.27 q/ha) was significantly higher than ICPL-332 (7.31 q/ha) but was on par with LRG-30 (9.06 q/ha) during post rainy season. The higher seed yield of ICPL-8863 was due to higher 100 seed weight (10.10 g) over other varieties. However, the varieties did not differ significantly with respect to pods per plant, stalk yield and harvest index.

Karle and Pawar (1998) from Badnapur, Maharastra, reported that, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod and 100-seed weight were more in wider spacing than closer spacing, during rabi season. The pigeon pea sown at a closer row spacings of 25 cm recorded significantly lower seed yield (892 kg/ha) as compared to wider row spacings of 35 cm (991 kg/ha) and 45 cm (987 kg/ha).

Desai and Intwala (1999) conducted an experiment during post rainy season at Navsari, Gujarat, with three spacings (25 cm x 10 cm, 35 cm x 10 cm and 45 cm x 10 cm). The result indicated that, sowing at closer spacing (25 cm x 10 cm) was more beneficial than wider spacing. The reduction in seed yield over 25 cm x 10 cm with wider spacing was to the extent of 11.3 per cent with 35 cm x 10 cm and 19.0 per cent with 45 cm x 10 cm.

Gajera and Ahlawat (2006) reported that ascending irrigation levels progressively increased the grain yield without altering the harvest index but significant increased occurred upto 0.30 IW / CPE ratio. The percentage increased in grain yield over control was 128.5 and 135.88 under 0.30 and 0.60 IW / CPE ratio, respectively in rabi pigeonpea

Rabi pigeonpea could be successfully extended and introduced in areas where winter temperatures are mild. Pigeonpea as a rabi crop can thus be profitably introduced in the lands vacated by kharif maize, early rice, minor millets, etc. To take advantages of residual moisture rabi pigeonpea as to be sown early in September.

 

REFERENCE

Desai, N. C. and Intiwala, C. G., 1999, Optimization of sowing time and spacing in post rainy season pigeonpea grown in South Gujarat. Int. Chickpea and Pigeonpea News
lett., 6:56-57.
Gajera, M.S. and Ahlawat, R. P. S., 2006, Optimization of irrigation and evaluation of consumptive water use efficiency for rabi pigeonpea. Legume res., 29(2):140-142.
Karle, A. S. and Pawar, G. G., 1998, Seed yield of pigeonpea genotypes under varying planting geometry during rabi season. Indian J. Pulses Res., 11(1): 98-99.
Nagamani, G., Rao, P. G. and Rao, D. S. K., 1995, Response of pigeonpea cultivars to plant densities in post rainy season. J. Maharastra Agric. Univ., 20(1):125-126.
Naidu, N. V., 1997, importance of pigeonpea during rabi season. Indian farming., 47(3): 11-12.