Pigeon pea is an important pulse crop grown in India. It is rich in protein and iron. The major producing states are Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka. Pigeon pea grows best in sandy loam to clayey loam soils and requires temperatures between 15-35°C during different stages. Varieties recommended include Prabhat, Co1, and Co2. It is usually grown with sowing in June and harvesting after seeds mature. Fertilizer and weed management are important. Pests include pod borer and diseases include wilt. Seed yield averages 20-25 quintals per hectare.

2.  Introduction
 Area and production
 Ecological requirements
 Fertilizer management
 Seed and sowing
 Water management
 Weed management
 Harvesting and threshing
 Seed yield
 Varieties

3.  Pigeon pea commonly known as red gram or arhar is very old crop of this
country.
 After chick pea, arhar is the second most important pulse crop in the
country.
 It is a rich source of protein and supplies a major share of the protein
requirement of the vegetarian population of the country.
 Seed of arhar are also rich in iron and iodine
 Area:-
Gujarat,M.P, U.P, Karnataka, Andhra pradesh .
 Productivity:-
Bihar(1115 kg /ha)
Haryana(1036 kg/ha)
U.P (1029 kg/ha)

4. Amount Per 100 grams
Calories 343
% Daily value
Total Fat 1.5 g 2%
Saturated fat 0.3 g 1%
Polyunsaturated fat 0.8 g
Monounsaturated fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Sodium 17 mg 0%
Potassium 1,392 mg 39%
Total Carbohydrate 63 g 21%
Dietary fiber 15 g 60%
Protein 22 g 44%

5. Botanical name Cajanus cajan
Family Fabaceae
Chromosome no. 2n = 22
Origin Eastern part of peninsular India
Cultivar group members
Cajanus cajan var. bicolor.
Cajanus cajan var. flavus.

6. Arhar needs moist and warm weather
 During germination(30-35°C).
 During active vegetative growth it prefers a fairly moist and warm
climate (20-25°C).
 During flowering and pod setting (15-18°C).
 At maturity it need higher temp (35-40°C).
 Cloudy weather and excessive rainfall at flowering time damage the crop
to a great extent.
.

7.  Sandy loam to clayey loam soil are supposed to be
best.
 Soil must be very deep ,well drained,alluvial and
loamy soil are good for its cultivation.
 It is successfully grown in black cotton soils of
madhya pradesh and maharashtra with proper
drainage.
 It required neutral PH.

8. VARIETY PEDIGREE AREA Special features
Prabhat T1 * T-190 Western Uttar
Pradesh,
Haryana, Punjab,
Delhi, Rajasthan
Compact plant
type susceptible
to pod-borer
Pant A-3 Selection from
germplasm
Western U.P,
Haryana, Punjab,
Delhi, Rajasthan
Multi disease
resistance
UPAS-120 selection from
germplasm
(P4758)
Western U.P,
Haryana, Punjab,
Delhi, Rajasthan
Torrent to pod
borer
Co 1 Mutation Tamil Nadu
Co 2 Mutation Tamil Nadu
Early – maturing varieties of pigeonpea developed in India since Independence.

9. State Recommended Varieties for Cultivation
Andhra Pradesh ICPL-87199,ICPL-87, LRG-30, ICPL-8863,
Assam Bahar, Pusa-9
Bihar Bahar, Pusa-9,DA-11, Virsha Arhar-1, Laxmi
Gujarat BDN-2, GT-100, ICPL-8863, ICPL-87119, ICPH-8
Haryana Manak, Paras, ICPL-151, UPAS-120, ICPL-88039, Pusa-885
Karnataka ICPL-87119, ICPL-8863, ICPL-87, ICPL-84301
Punjab Manak, Paras, ICPL-151,PPH-4 (Hybrid),UPAS-120, Al-201, AL-15
Rajasthan Manak, UPAS-120, Pusa-33, Pusa -855
Tamil Nadu ICPL -87119, ICPL-8863, ICPL-87, Co-6, Durga, COH-2, Vamban-1
Uttar Pradesh UPAS-120, Type-21, ICPL-151, ICPL-88039, Narendra, Amar-1, Amar, Azad, Type-7 Pusa -855
Madhya Pradesh JA-4, UPAS-120, ICPL-87119, BDN-2, KM-7, C-11, NPWR-15,BSMR-730
Maharashtra ICPL-87119, BSMR-736, BSMR-75, ICPL-87, ICPL-8863, AKPH-4101
Orissa ICPL-87119, ICPL-87 UPAS-120
West Bengal Bahar, Pusa-9, Sweta, B-517, S-20
North Eastern State Bahar, Pusa-9

10.  Pigeon pea responds well to properly tilled and well
drained seedbed.
 A deep ploughing with soil turning plough followed by
two to three cross horrowings and proper levelling should
be given to ensure uniform irrigation and proper drainage.
 Being a deep rooted crop, it requires a deep and well
pulverised field which is free from weeds and clods.

11.  Sowing of seed crop in first week of june is recommnded
for obtaining higher seed yields.
Source of seed
 Obtain nucleus /breeder’s/ foundation seed from source
approved by seed certification agaency.
Method of sowing:-
 Sowing is done either with seed drill or by plough in
furrows. The depth of seeding is 5 cm.

12.  Row to Row – 60 to 75 cm
 Plant to Plant - 25 to 30 cm
Seed Rate
 A seed rate of 12 -15 kg per hectare is sufficient.
Seed Treatment
 Treat the seed with Carbendazim (Bavistin) or Thiram at
the rate of 3 g per kg of seed before sowing.

13.  For good yields application of ten cart loads of farm yard manure
followed by 25 kg of nitrogen and 50 kg of phosphorus is
recommended.
 The fertiliser should be drilled at the time of sowing so that it will
be placed at 10 to 15 cm deep in the soil and also to the side of the
seed.

14. Water Management
 The crop is mostly grown rainfed, after
germination, need two light irrigation which should be given at:-
 (45-50 days) after sowing.
 (75 days) first at flowering .
 2nd at pod filling stage of the crop.
Weed Management
 Two hand weedings must be done after sowing of the crop.
 Once about 25-30 days.
 Another about 45-50 days.
 Where hand weeding is not possible use of:-
 Basaline at the rate of 1.0 litre/ha as pre-sown.

15. 1)Wilt
 Caused by:- Fusarium oxysporum
 Controlled by:-
 Best control is to plant disease resistant varieties like Amar, Azad,
Asha.
2) Stem rot
 Caused by:- Phytophthora dreschsleri
 Controlled by:-
 This disease can be controlled by planting resistant varieties.
 There should be good drainage in the field and the plants should be
protected from stem injury

16. 1)Pod borer
 Controlled by:-
 Spray the crop with 1.5 litre Endosulfan 35 EC or
Monocrotophos 36 EC per hec, in 1000 lit of water.
2)Tur pod fly
 Controlled by:-
 The pest can be controlled by spraying the crop with
1.5 lit of Endosulfan 35 EC or Monocrotophos 36
EC per hec, in 1000 lit of water.

17.  Rogue the off type plants and diseased plants
affected by wilt, leaf spot and stem canker,
yellow mosaic virus and sterility virus from
seed field from time to time, as required.
 Remove objectionable weed plants.

18.  Arhar can be very well intercropped or sown mixed with a number of
other crops like rice, groundnut, til, mung, cowpea and soybean.
 Central & southern states : pigeonpea + sorghum
 Karnataka & gujarat : pigeonpea +pearlmillet
 M.P & karnataka : pigeonpea +minor millet
 Rajasthan & eastern india : pigeonpea +maize
 Gujarat & A.P : pigeonpea +castor
 Central & northern M.P : pigeonpea + soybean

19. pigeonpea +maize
pigeonpea + soybean

20.  Harvesting:-
 The crop is harvested soon after the seed is mature.
 Harvesting is normally done with sickle and the crop is left in the
field to dry for about 1 week.
 Threshing:-
 Threshing is done by beating the plant with sticks.
 Necessary precaution should be taken to avoid mechanical admixtures
during these operations.

21.  Moisture percent:-
8-10 % moisture before storage.
 Seed yield:-
The average seed yield varies from 20 to 25
qt/ha.

22. Climatic Requirement  During germination(30-35°C).
During flowering and pod setting (15-18°C).
 At maturity it need higher temp (35-40°C).
Soil Requirement Sandy loam to clayey loam soil are supposed to be best.
Variety Prabhat , co1, co2
Land preparation A deep ploughing with soil turning plough followed by two to
three cross horrowings and proper levelling should be given to
ensure uniform irrigation and proper drainage.
Time of sowing Sowing of seed crop in first week of june is recommnded for
obtaining higher seed yields

23. Source of seed Obtain nucleus /breeder’s/ foundation seed from source
approved by seed certification agaency.
Method of sowing Sowing is done either with seed drill or by plough in furrows. The
depth of seeding is 5 cm.
Seed Spacing Row to Row – 60 to 75 cm
Plant to Plant - 25 to 30 cm
Seed Rate A seed rate of 12 -15 kg per hectare is sufficient.
Seed Treatment Treat the seed with Carbendazim (Bavistin) or Thiram at the rate
of 3 g per kg of seed before sowing.
Fertilizer management For good yields application of ten cart loads of farm yard
manure followed by 25 kg of nitrogen and 50 kg of
phosphorus is recommended.
Water Management The crop is mostly grown rainfed, after germination, need two
light irrigation which should be given at:-
 (45-50 days) after sowing.
(75 days) first at flowering .
2nd at pod filling stage of the crop.

24. ROUGING:- Rogue the off type pants and diseased plants
affected by wilt, leaf spot and stem canker, yellow
mosaic virus and sterility virus from seed field
from time to time, as required.
Harvesting:- The crop is harvested soon after the seed is mature.
Threshing:- Threshing is done by beating the plant with sticks.
 Necessary precaution should be taken to avoid
mechanical admixtures during these operations.
Moisture percent:- 8-10 % moisture before storage.
Seed yield:- The average seed yield varies from 20 to 25 qt/ha.

25.  IIPR :- Indian Institute of Pulses Research,
Kalyanpur, Kanpur Uttar Pradesh.
 NPRC:-National Pulses Research Center, Tamil
Nadu.

26.  Agrawal R.L (2010) Seed technology 2nd edition.oxford & IBH publishing
co. pvt. ltd., New Delhi. Page no. 145-146.
 Singh, S.S & Singh,R (2011) crop management. Kalyani publishers, New
delhi.
Page no. 182- 192.
 Martin, J.H and Leonard, W.H.(1967): Principles of field crop production,
McMillan and co., New york.
 Anonymous (1985): handbook of agriculture, ICAR, New Delhi.
 Pugh, B.M. (1958): Production of field crops in India, Kitabistan,
Allahabad.