Introduction

Introduction

Pigeon-pea or red-gram or arhar (Cajanus cajan L.) is extensively used as dal; its green pods may be used as a vegetable. The green leaves and tops of plants are fed to animals or are utilized as green manure. The husks of pods or seeds with parts of the kernels. Dry stalks are used for basket-making or as fuel or as thatching-material.

Requirement

Climate

The crop can be grown both in dry and moist hot climate. In the former case it has to be irrigated. Bright sunny weather is needed during flowering, and the ripening of pods. The plants cannot withstand frost; the crop is sometimes irrigated late in December or early in January to protect it against frost.

Soil

The crop can be grown on almost all types of soils (not deficient in lime), ranging from the alluvial soils to heavy black cotton soils. However, it does best on well-drained light to medium soils, moist and deep enough to permit a free development of roots.

Varieties

'Prabhat', 'UPAS 120', 'Pant A3','T 21', 'Pusa Agetic (S.5)', 'BS 1', 'Mukta (R 60)', 'Sharda (S 8),'B R 183', 'Dholi 1234',' Dholi 1258',' B R 65',' Khargone 2',' C 11',' No.148,' 'NP (WR 15)', 'T 7','T 17','Hyd.3 A','Hyd.3 C.'

Cultivation

In the case of mixed crops, the preparatory tillage for the major crop in the mixture is considered adequate for pigeon-pea. For the crops sown pure, the land is ploughed once and is harrowed two or three times to obtain a fairly pulverized seedbed. The sowing is done with the commencement of the south-western monsoon. If irrigation is available, the middle of June may be the optimum time.

Sowing

Occasionally, in tracts of mild winter, it is taken as a rabi crop, the sowing being done in September or October. In line-sowing, the seed is dropped in furrows either by hand or through a tube with a funnel attached to a desi plough. A row-spacing of 50cm for medium and 75-90cm for late varieties is needed. A seed rate of 12-15kg per ha is required.

Fertilizer

Manuring with 25-40kg per ha of phosphorus (P₂O₅) and 25kg per ha of nitrogen (N) should be given at the time sowing. Also seed treatment with biofertilizer viz. Rhizobium at the rate of 25gram per kg of seed is beneficial.

Irrigation

Irrigation should be given according to soil type and crop stage. Flowering and pod filling are the critical stages for irrigation. Irrigation interval should be 8-10 days.

Plant protection

Pest

Aphids

The nymphs and adults suck the sap. The affected leaves turns yellow, get wrinkled and distorted. The insect also exude honeydew on which fungus develops, rapidly covers the plant with sooty mould that interferes with the photosynthetic activity of the plant.

Control

Spraying with 0.05% Endosulfan, 0.02% Phosphamidon, 0.03% Dimethoate, Methyl demeton or Thiometon control the pest effectively.

Thrips

The adults and nymphs feed on leaves. They scrape the epidermis and such the oozing sap. As a result, light brown patches appear on infested leaves. The affected leaves curl and become dry.

Control

Spraying with 0.05% Endosulfan, 0.02% Phosphamidon, 0.03% Dimethoate, Methyl demeton or Thiometon control the pest effectively.

Pod borer

Caterpillars feed on tender foliage and young pods. They make holes in the pods and feed on developing seeds by inserting anterior half portion of their body inside the pods.

Control

In early stage of attack handpicking of the caterpillars and their destruction. Ploughing fields after the harvest of crop would expose the pupae, which would be destroyed by birds. Spraying the crop with 0.05% Quinalphos or Fenitrohion can successfully control the pest. Spray with HaNPV @ 250 LE/ha.

Disease

Leaf spot

Angular brown or red spots, with grey or brown centre and reddish-purple border on leave, stalk and pods

Control

Spray with Bordeaux mixture (5:5:50) or 0.2% Ziram.

Powdery mildew

White powdery patches on leaves and other green parts, later becoming dull coloured and are studded with black dot.

Control

Dust the crop with finely powdered sulphur @ 15kg/ha.

Harvesting and yield

The time taken by the crop to mature ranges from four to ten months. The extra-early and early varieties are harvested in the middle or end of November, whereas the medium and late varieties remain in the field till late (January-March). Pods may be picked at frequent intervals. Finally, when most of the leaves have dried up and shed, the plants are cut close to the ground, tied into bundles, carted to the threshing-floor, stacked upright, dried for a few days and vigorously shaken. Pods and dry leaves beaten with sticks. The average yield of the mixed dry crop varies from 200-800 kg of grains per hectare. The pure or irrigated crop may yield from 1500-1800 kg.