Pigeon pea offers a long a list of benefits, here is how to grow it

The pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) is a perennial legume from the family Fabaceae. Since its domestication in South Asia at least 3,500 years ago, its seeds have become a common food grain in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Pigeon pea is a hardy, drought-tolerant legume. Today, in terms of global production of legume crops, pigeonpea is sixth after Phaseolus species (common beans), peas, chickpeas, broad beans, and lentils.

Vegetative growth begins slowly but accelerates at 2–3 months. Pigeonpea roots are thin with a deep-rooting taproot reaching up to 6 ft (2 m) in depth.

It does well in low fertility soils, making it a favorite among subsistence farmers. As with most legumes, it does not tolerate waterlogged or flooded conditions for very long. Pigeonpea is very heat-tolerant and grows
well in hot, humid climates.

When used as a green manure, pigeonpea should produce quick improvements in the topsoil. Its extensive root system makes soil more friable, improves its tilth, and facilitates water infiltration.

This multi-functional plant can serve as a windbreak and living fence that also produces food and fodder. The leaf litter contributes a mulch that decomposes to add to the soil organic matter, possibly contributing as much as 35 lb/ac (40 kg/ha) of nitrogen to the soil.

Food

Pigeonpea is widely known for its use as food. Immature pods, immature seeds, and the mature seeds can be consumed. The seeds are used whole, dehulled, or ground to a flour.



Nematode resistant varieties:

- ‘FL81d’ Hawaii
- ‘Norman’ Hawaii, both are shorter, shrubbier type; resistant to root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita).

References:

Pigeon pea - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://bit.ly/1IeghJm
Growing Pigeon Peas, An Incredibly Versatile Permaculture Plant http://bit.ly/1IegmNg
Pigeon Peas: A Survival Plant Profile - THE SURVIVAL GARDENER http://buff.ly/2lHTOPT

PDFs:

http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/GreenManureCrops/pigeonpea.pdf
http://www.marioncountyfl.org/home/showdocument?id=4966
http://www.zef.de/module/register/media/63c0_narf_157.pdf
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/sustainag/news/articles/V7-Valenzuela-cajanus.pdf
http://afghanag.ucdavis.edu/b_field-crops/other/Man_Pigeon_Pea_ILRI.pdf

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