Pulses Articles

Better management practices for higher yields in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan)
1
Subham Kumar & 2Ram Ajeet Chaudhary
1
Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Entomology, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun (Uttarakhand)
2
Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Entomology, CSA University, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh)
INTRODUCTION: Pulses form an integral part of vegetarian diet in Indian subcontinent. In

India, pulses have been cultivated since time immemorial under rainfed situations which is
characterized by poor soil fertility and moisture stress. These crops are energy rich but cultivated
largely under energy starving situations. Unlike in cereals, varietal breakthrough in pulses has
not been taken place. During the last four decades, the total area under pulses remained virtually
stagnant (22 to 24 million ha) with almost stable production (12 to 14 million tonnes), even
though the population has been increased. The per capita availability of pulses is @ 42 g per day
(Pulses in India Retrospect & Prospects) as against FAO/WHO recommendation of 80 g per day
is. It has led to the severe shortage of pulses in India, which has aggravated the problem of
malnutrition in large section of vegetarian population.
Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) is one of the important protein rich pulse in the tropics and
subtropics and is the second most important pulse crops of India after chickpea. The global
production of pigeon pea is 4.32 million tonnes from an area of 5.32 m ha with a productivity of
813.2 kg/ha. India is the largest producer and consumer of pigeonpea with an area of 3.86 m ha.
It can be grown as an alternate crop to cotton, chillies and tobacco. It can also be grown as an
intercrop in greengram, blackgram, soybean and groundnut. Moisture stress especially during
terminal growth stages and wilt are major production constraints resulting in significant yield
reduction. Drought is deleterious for plant growth, yield and mineral nutrition. (Garg et al., 2004;
Samarah et al., 2004) and is one of the largest limiting factors in agriculture (Reddy et al., 2004).
Seed yield is most affected by drought occurring in the flowering and early pod development
stages. To mitigate the problems and to get higher yields we have to follow some better
management practices.
Better management practices:
1. Selection of variety: To overcome the problems in pigeonpea day by day new varieties of
pigeonpea resistant to that problems are being introduced. Depending on the area and type of
problem varieties should be selected. For ex: LRG 52 is tolerant to moisture stress and wilt. So
this variety can be grown in areas which are subjecting to drought and wilt. Eventhough these
varieties are performing better in research fields. farmers are not obtaining better yields due to
poor management practices. Selecting suitable and high yielding variety/hybrid and cultivating
with best management practices will improve yields in farmers fields. Among the best
management practices sowing through dibbling and nipping are the best.
2. Dibbling: Dibbling means sowing with dibbler. For light soil spacing between two rows
should be 150 cm and spacing between two plants should be 45 cm. For heavy soils spacing
between two rows should be 180 cm and spacing between two plants should be 60 cm. By
following this method of sowing seed rate required will be only 2 kg per acre and as there is
possibility of doing intercultivation cost of weed management will also be reduced. Plant lower
parts and roots will get required light and aeration which improves flowering and pod formation.
3. Nipping: Nipping means removal of aerial parts of plants during early stages by hand or by
using sickle or nippling instrument. It can be done only when there is sufficient moisture in soil
at 40-45 DAS. Nipping will increase crop yields from 12 to 16%.
4. Measures to overcome moisture stress: Spraying of urea @ 20 g/l or potassium nitrate @ 10

g/l during moisture stress will reduce flower and pod shedding and also protects crop from
moisture stress upto 7 days.
5. Measures to overcome water logging: If there is water logging condition in field iron
deficiency will be observed. To overcome this problem, spraying of FeSo4 @ 5 g + lime Salt @
1 g/l will reduce the deficiency.
CONCLUSION: Selecting suitable and high yielding variety and performing better
management practices in pigeonpea will improve yields and income of farmers.
REFERENCE:
Garg BK, Burman U, Kathju S. (2004). The influence of phosphorus nutrition on the
physiological response of moth bean genotypes to drought. Journal of Plant
Nutrition and Soil Science. 167(4):503-508.
Reddy AR, Chaitanya KV, Vivekanandan M. (2004). Drought induced responses of

photosynthesis and antioxidant metabolism in higher plants. Journal of plant
physiology. 161(11):1189-1202.
Samarah N, Mullen R, Cianzio S. (2004) Size distribution and mineral nutrients of soybean seeds
in response to drought stress. Journal of Plant Nutrition. 27(5):815-835.

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Better management practices for higher yields in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan)

INTRODUCTION: Pulses form an integral part of vegetarian diet in Indian subcontinent. In

Better management practices:

4. Measures to overcome moisture stress: Spraying of urea @ 20 g/l or potassium nitrate @ 10

Reddy AR, Chaitanya KV, Vivekanandan M. (2004). Drought induced responses of

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