Pigeon Pea

Pigeon pea is grown chiefly for its dry seed, which is dehulled and split into dal in South Asia, and eaten as a fresh green pea in the Caribbean and Africa. The crop also supplies fodder, staking material, and fuelwood, and its residues and leaf fall improve soil fertility.

Maturity types range from very early lines that fit into short growing seasons to traditional long-duration types that flower after the rains and are well suited to intercropping and residual-moisture cropping.

Family

Fabaceae (legume family)

Genus and species

Cajanus cajan

Growth habit

Erect, woody, short-lived perennial shrub bearing trifoliate leaves and pods on a deeply rooted framework

Root system

Deep taproot bearing nodules that host nitrogen-fixing rhizobia

Pigeon pea is generally considered to have been domesticated in the Indian subcontinent, from where it spread to Africa and, through the movement of people and trade, to the Caribbean and Latin America. India remains the largest producer and consumer.

Pigeon pea is a warm-season crop of the tropics and subtropics, sensitive to frost and cool temperatures but notably tolerant of heat and drought once its deep root system is established. Many traditional types are photoperiod-sensitive, flowering as day length shortens.

The crop is well adapted to environments with a distinct rainy season followed by a dry period, during which its deep roots continue to draw on stored soil moisture.

Pigeon pea grows on a wide range of soils, from sandy loams to heavier clays, provided drainage is adequate. It is markedly sensitive to waterlogging, which impairs root and nodule function and increases the risk of soilborne wilt.

Pigeon pea is direct-seeded at the onset of the rains, frequently as an intercrop with a faster-maturing cereal that is harvested first, leaving the pigeon pea to complete its cycle on residual moisture. Spacing and maturity type are matched to the cropping system and season length.

• Maturity type (early, medium, or long duration) matched to season length and cropping system
• Intercropping with cereals such as sorghum, millet, or maize in many smallholder systems
• Rotation and field selection to limit build-up of soilborne wilt
• Rhizobial inoculation in fields new to the crop where effective nodulation is uncertain

Biological nitrogen fixation can supply much of the crop’s nitrogen requirement where nodulation is effective. Phosphorus is often the most limiting nutrient in the semi-arid soils where pigeon pea is grown, and the crop is noted for its ability to access sparingly soluble soil phosphorus.

Pigeon pea is grown largely under rain-fed conditions, where its deep rooting and drought tolerance are central advantages. Supplemental irrigation is used in some higher-input systems, particularly for early-maturing types grown outside the main rainy season.

Even given its drought tolerance, adequate moisture during flowering and pod fill supports yield, while excess water and poor drainage remain more damaging than short dry spells.

Fusarium wilt, caused by a soilborne fungus, is among the most damaging diseases of pigeon pea in many regions and is aggravated by poor drainage and continuous cropping. Sterility mosaic and root rots also cause losses under favorable conditions.

Pod borers are the principal insect threat, feeding directly on developing seed, while aphids and other sap feeders can transmit viruses and reduce vigor. Management combines resistant or tolerant cultivars, rotation, field monitoring, and, where warranted, locally authorized controls applied according to their labels.

Dry pigeon pea is harvested once pods have matured and dried, by hand picking in smallholder systems or by mechanical means where the crop is grown as a determinate, uniform stand. Green pigeon pea is picked at an immature, tender stage for fresh use.

• Dry seed dehulled and split into dal, a dietary protein staple in South Asia
• Fresh green seed used as a vegetable, especially in the Caribbean and Africa
• Foliage and residues used as livestock fodder and forage
• Woody stems used as fuel and staking material; leaf fall and residues improve soil fertility