Biomass and nitrogen traits of summer pigeon peas and winter wheat grown for three rotations in containers

Abstract

Pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] cultivars, 'Georgia-1' and 'ICPL-87', were grown without inoculation and with Bradyrhizobium inoculation (multistrain, TAL 1127, or TAL 1132) to evaluate legume dry weight (DW) and nitrogen (N) content, soil mineral N, and subsequent wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) productivity. Pigeon peas were grown during summer and 'TAM 101' wheat was grown during winter, along with summer fallow controls fertilized with 0, 45, and 90 kg N ha 21 , in 36-cm diam. 20-L pots from 1992 to 1995. Representative pigeon peas were harvested in the fall and remaining plants were incorporated into the soil. Wheat was planted and soil cores were collected at 35 to 48 d after pigeon pea harvest. Wheat was harvested the following spring. Factors affecting DW and N content of both 897

Genetic Improvement of Pigeon Pea — A Review

“…These varieties are not currently in use in the country but they served as source for earliness in the breeding program at ICRISAT (KB Saxena, unpublished data). Recently, USA interest in pigeon pea has revived for fodder purposes and considerable research is being carried out at El Reno, Oklahoma where pigeon pea is used as a summer legume having excellent fodder yields [77][78][79].…”

“…Its forage quality approaches that of alfalfa and soybean. Pigeon pea also provided 30 kg N ha −1 to the subsequent wheat crop [78,79].…”

Crop Sequencing to Improve Use of Precipitation and Synergize Crop Growth

“…In the southern Great Plains, crop–livestock systems have been able to use precipitation more efficiently through the development of a relay forage system that includes pigeonpea for forage during the summer months of the traditional winter wheat system (Rao et al, 2002a, 2002b). They examined precipitation (Fig.…”

“…2). Pigeonpea enhances the succeeding winter wheat crop, which may not be due to precipitation or improved water‐use efficiency, but due to pigeonpea and pigeonpea residue; and Rao et al (2002b) are investigating other winter wheat–summer legume rotations that may have potential for the southern Great Plains.…”

“…The sequence of crops in cropping systems results in interactions among crops that are synergistic, such as those demonstrated by Rao et al (2002b) with pigeonpea in the southern Great Plains. Therefore, greater attention must be paid to synergistic and symbiotic relationships associated with crop sequencing to better understand the relationships and determine how to employ them in sustainable cropping systems in the Great Plains.…”