Assessing impacts of projected climate on pigeonpea crop at GulbargaA V R KRaoauthorS PWaniauthorKSrinivasauthorPSinghauthorS DBairagiauthorORamadeviauthorPigeonpea [Cajanus cajan(L.) Millsp] is an important semi-arid legume crop in India. In Karnataka, pigeonpea is largely grown in the northern parts of the state especially in Gulbarga, which is called “Pulse Bowl of Karnataka”. Climate change is one of the major challenges being faced by agriculture in the Semi-Arid Tropics (SAT) of the country. Pigeonpea productivity in Gulbarga is affected by large variations in rainfall amount and distribution, increased temperatures, depleting soil productivity and disturbing water balance. Based on daily weather data of 41 years (1969-2009), productivity and water use of pigeonpea under eleven climate scenarios are assessed using the pigeonpea model in Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM). Simulations are done with automatic sowing based on rainfall and soil moisture availability during the sowing window (15 Jun to 20 Aug) and following recommended crop management practices. Simulations show that increase in temperature by 2°C could reduce pigeonpea yields by about 16%. Rainfall decrease of 10% from present coupled with 2°C increase in temperature could reduce yields further by 4%, making the total reduction to be at 20%. Crop duration was shortened by about 10 days and water use reduced by 25 mm with increase in temperature. Increased rainfall scenarios have considerably reduced the adverse effects of higher temperature. Breeding of varieties tolerant to higher temperature and adoption of better water management (both in-situ and ex-situ) practices achieved through integrated watershed approach could play a major role in sustaining pigeonpea productivity under future climate scenarios.KarnatakaPigeonpeaClimate Change2013-12Association of AgrometeorologistsArticle