Seedling Transplanting Protocols for Sustainable Pigeonpea Production in Semi-Arid Tropics

Sawargaonkar, G L and Kamdi, P J and Khopade, R and Savan, R and Kale, S and Pasumarthi, R and Singh, R (2025) Seedling Transplanting Protocols for Sustainable Pigeonpea Production in Semi-Arid Tropics. Monograph. ICRISAT, Hyderabad.

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Global Research Program - Resilient Farm and Food Systems

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Abstract

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) is a protein-rich leguminous crop that fits well in diverse cropping systems and contributes significantly in enhancing soil fertility and nutrient cycling. Pigeonpea is grown in 82 countries worldwide, covering a total area of 5.4 mha and yielding 4.49 mt annually. India occupies 90% of the global pigeonpea cultivation area (4.53 mha) and produces 85% of the total output (3.89 mt of production). Despite the large area under cultivation, its national productivity is very low i.e., 850-900 kg ha-1, primarily due to non-adoption of good agronomic management practices and suitable genotypes. To address these challenges, ICRISAT’s long-term strategic research has demonstrated that transplanting pigeonpea (3-4 week seedlings raised in a nursery), using region-specific genotypes, effective planting geometry, and suitable landform management practices can achieve higher pigeonpea productivity on a sustainable basis. The research findings confirm that transplanted pigeonpea is a potential climate-resilient technology that enhances early crop establishment, optimises water use, and increases system productivity by 20-38% in rainfed agro-ecosystems.

Item Type:	Monograph (Monograph)
Divisions:	Global Research Program - Resilient Farm and Food Systems
CRP:	UNSPECIFIED
Series Name:	Protocols
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Seed Management, transplanting, Sowing Technicalities, pigeonpea, seedling, Semi-Arid Tropics
Subjects:	Others > Semi-Arid Tropics Mandate crops > Pigeonpea
Depositing User:	Mr Nagaraju T
Date Deposited:	09 Jan 2026 03:46
Last Modified:	09 Jan 2026 03:46
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/13418
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