There is also a wide range of intermediate types, with great variation in height,
growth period and photoperiodic response. Many named varieties are available,
more than 100 in India alone, and there is a major plant breeding effort underway to
improve yield and disease resistance.
PLANTING
Propagation: by seed, but cuttings can also be used. They are mainly self-
pollinated, though up to 40% cross-pollination can occur. Inoculation can greatly
increase yields.
Soil: pigeon peas grow well in infertile, but not waterlogged, soils (ridge planting is
recommended in soils liable to waterlogging). Moderate tolerance to saline soils.
Optimum pH is 5–7. Yields are reduced when soils are deficient in Manganese or
Phosphorus. Rarely responds well to fertilisers, though Phosphorus often increases
the efficiency of root Rhizobia, which can fix up to 100 kg/ha of Nitrogen.
Intercropping: very common, with maize, sorghum, finger millet, pearl millet,
cassava, sesame and groundnuts.
Weeds: weeds can quickly overcome a pigeon pea crop and should be well
controlled for the first few weeks.
Depth: 2.5–8 cm.
Seed spacing: not very critical as the plants are good at compensating. Average is
60 cm between plants, 120 cm between rows. When intercropped, one row of pigeon
peas is often planted for every 3–5 rows of the primary crop.
Seed rate: 1–6 kg/ha intercropped, 9–30 kg/ha in pure stand. 17–19,000 seeds/kg.
GROWTH CONDITIONS
Day length: all three types are found, though most modern varieties are short-day,
in which case the sowing date is critical as this affects the growth period, height and
yield.
Growth period: very variable, from 80 days to more than a year for the first grain
harvest, depending on variety, planting date, growing conditions and location.
Pruning of the branches after the first harvest encourages branching and helps
maintain yield of the second harvest. Both determinate and indeterminate types
exist.
Temperature: pigeon peas are sun-loving plants and most varieties are frost
sensitive at all stages. The optimum temperature is 18–29C, minimum is 10 C and
maximum about 35C.
Rainfall: drought resistant; ideal growing conditions are 600–1000 mm/a., with
heavy rainfall for the first weeks of growth and a dry period for flowering and
harvest. The minimum is about 350 mm/a., maximum is about 2500 mm/a. Wet
weather tends to produce excessive vegetative growth at the expense of grain
production.
Altitude: in Venezuela pigeon peas are grown up to 3000 m.
Pests: not often a big problem; the worst are the Gram Caterpillar, Red Gram Plume
Moth, Gram Pod Fly, American Bollworm and Spotted Pod Borer.
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180 TONY WINCH
kept under control with fumigation.
In storage Pulse Beetles and Bruchids can cause serious damage if they are not