Pigeon pea is a short-lived summer-growing perennial pulse crop that is grown widely throughout the tropics and subtropical regions. In Australia, it is grown as an annual crop. In NSW pigeon peas are suited to areas of the northern slopes and plains where grain sorghum is grown. The grain is used for humanconsumption and is prized by people in India, Africa and southeast Asia. In India, the largestconsumer, it is usually eaten as dhal, or splitpea. Currently the pigeon pea industry inAustralia is small. Extensive market research development needs to be undertaken for what appears to be basically an export commodity. Currently the use of the crop is expanding heliothis trap crop in cotton production.
Varieties
The University of Queensland has released grain-type pigeon pea varieties Hunt, Quantum and Quest. These cultivars do not respond day length and flower 60 to 80 days after emergence.
The variety Hunt grows to 1 m high and flowers in 65 to 80 days.
Quantum matures marginally faster than Hunt and yields 18 per cent higher than Hunt in northern NSW.
Quest is the latest release and is the main variety recommended at the present time. similar maturity to Quantum (flowers in 65 days after emergence) but has larger, lightcoloured seeds, which are more acceptable the market place. Maturity occurs approximately 50 to 75 days after flowering.
Pigeon pea outcrosses when two or more varieties are grown in close proximity. Although the factors responsible are not well understood, it is suggested that to maintain pure seed, crops of different varieties should be separated by at least 3 km and preferably by 5 km.
Climate
Pigeon pea has a reputation for drought resistance. Although the plant can survive very dry conditions, experience indicates that seed yield is minimal under these conditions.
Flowering is delayed under periods of extreme moisture stress. However, rainfall to alleviate such a stress will stimulate further flowering.
The principles of summer crop agronomy developed for sunflowers and sorghum are relevant to pigeon pea production. On the northwest plains, 0.75 to 1.0 m of wet soil is a prerequisite for planting.
Pigeon peas are sensitive to frost, which will defoliate the plant.
Soils
The crop can be grown on a wide range of soil types from lighter loams to the clay soils of the plains. Good surface and internal drainage is essential, as short periods of waterlogging will kill the plant, especially in the younger stages.
Because of the susceptibility of the crop to waterlogging, furrow irrigation during growth is not currently recommended, except in very well drained situations A furrow irrigation program would normally involve pre-irrigating and planting into a full profile of soil moisture. Spray irrigation on well drained soils is feasible.
Planting times
The limitation to early planting appears to be a requirement for a minimum soil temperature of 18ºC at sowing depth at 9 a.m. ESST. Pigeon pea characteristically grows slowly and competes poorly with weeds, and low soil temperatures will lengthen the establishment phase.
The recommended planting time is from late November to early January. December is considered the best month to plant in normal seasons. This is especially the case on the slopes, where crops could be frosted before maturity if planted in January. As a guide, the crop takes about 65 to 80 days to flower and a further 50 to 75 days for the pods to mature.
Plant populations and row spacings
Under dryland conditions in north-west NSW, populations of 100 000 to 200 000 established plants/ha are preferred. The higher population would be desirable in better rainfall areas and with at least 1 m of subsoil moisture. In drier areas, and with less than 1 m of stored moisture, the desired plant population is lower. Seed size of well filled seed of the variety Quest is about 12 to 15 g/100 seeds, although seed grownunder harsh conditions may be lighter.
Wide row spacings of 70 cm to 1 m are suitable for this crop under dryland conditions, enabling inter-row cultivation when necessary. However, under irrigation, at least 300 000 plants/ha should be established in rows less than 40 cm apart. Growers have described pigeon peas as easier to establish than sunflowers. Sowing depths of up to 5 cm have proven satisfactory. The use of press wheels with light pressure hasimproved emergence.
