Agronomic studies on pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.). I. Field responses to sowing time

Abstract

A split-plot design was used to investigate the vegetative and reproductive responses of two earlymaturing and two late-maturing Cajanus cajan accessions to eight sowing dates. Pre-flowering to pod-ripening durations varied, depending upon interactions between climatic factors and the photoperiodic responses of the accessions. Quantitative short-day, day-neutral or nearly day-neutral, and intermediate photoperiodic forms were identified. Relationships between day length, radiation, growing degree-days, and seed yield per hectare based on individual monthly harvests and harvest index were established for a sowing density of 2990 plants ha-1. Optimum sowing times were identified as late November-mid January for dry seed production in the latematuring accessions, and not later than December for periodic green pod picking in the earlymaturing accessions.