Pigeon pea: a multipurpose, drought resistant forage, grain and vegetable crop for sustainable southern farms

Pigeon pea: a multipurpose, drought resistant forage, grain and vegetable crop for sustainable southern farms

Summary

Pigeonpea planted into existing bermudagrass pasture with no supplemental fertilization exhibited successful emergence and stand establishment. However, frequent rainfall throughout the growing season promoted abundant grass growth which competed with pigeonpea plants for light and nutrients. When cattle were allowed to graze the mixed bermudagrass/pigeonpea pasture, they do not discriminate against the pigeonpea. Based on preliminary data from one growing season, pigeonpea planted into existing pastures can reduce the quantity of stormwater runoff, although not all varieties of pigeonpea are equally effective.

Objectives/Performance Targets

1. Quantify the effects of pigeon pea variety and plant population on water infiltration and runoff water quantity and quality (Texas AgriLife Research).

2. Evaluate the impact of pigeon pea grain crops on the depletion of soil profile moisture and the growth and yield of subsequent wheat crops.

3. Demonstrate and evaluate the value of pigeon pea as a late season forage crop when intercropped with existing grass pastures or as a post-wheat-harvest crop. Determine if cattle will graze pigeon pea during its pre-flowering growth stage or if they are not attracted to the pigeon pea until it reaches its flowering stage. Determine if there are different patterns and preferences in the way cattle graze white seed versus brown seed pigeon pea varieties.

4. Explore the market for fresh pod and dried bean forms of pigeon pea in the Dallas-Forth Worth area.

5. Host a pigeon pea conference at the Texas A&M University Research and Extension Center in Dallas, Texas to present pigeon pea cropping and marketing options for southern farmers.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Objective 1

Runoff plots have been established at the Texas AgriLife Research & Extension Center in Dallas. Six treatments were evaluated during 2007 including Georgia-one pigeonpea planted at 50,000 and 100,000 plants per hectare, Georgia-two planted at 50,000 plants per hectare, aerated grass pasture, and unimproved grass pasture. Total runoff from each plot is measured and sampled in order to quantify sediment loss and dissolved nutrient levels. Differences among treatment are relatively small for each runoff event, but cumulative runoff losses for the first eight months of this study was reduced by the Georgia-two pigeonpea variety planted at 100,000 plants per hectare.

Objective 2

Activities focused on evaluating soil moisture depletion by pigeonpea will commence with the 2008 growing season.

Objective 3

In an on-farm study in Dallas County, Texas, Georgia-two pigeonpea was directly seeded into an existing mixed bermudagrass pasture. No supplemental fertilizer was used nor was growth of the existing pasture suppressed. Pigeonpea exhibited successful emergence and stand establishment in the bermudagrass pasture. However, frequent rainfall throughout the growing season contributed to abundant grass growth, so pigeonpea plants had to compete with the pre-existing grasses for sunlight and nutrients.

Half the pigeonpea plots were offered to cattle for grazing when the pigeonpea was approximately 14 inches tall. The remaining half of the pigeonpea was offered to the cattle for grazing shortly after the pigeonpea initiated flowering. Under both grazing options, the cattle did not discriminate against the pigeonpea or soybeans and the study areas were grazed evenly. Other researchers have reported that cattle will discriminate against pigeonpea in their grazing habits.

Excessive rainfall in spring 2007 prevented the initiation of research related to comparing grazing preferences for brown-seeded versus green-seeded pigeonpea varieties. That work will be initiated in spring 2008.

Objective 4

An evaluation for the market potential of pigeonpea in the Greater Dallas area will be initiated in 2008.

Objective 5

Preliminary planning was initiated for a pigeonpea conference. The target date for the conference is February 2010.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

In recent years, farmers in Texas and surrounding states have been negatively impacted by recurring drought conditions. Livestock farmers are especially impacted by drought because scarcity of forage and hay forces them to reduce the size of their livestock herd. This research has the potential to provide farmers with a late-summer source of forage when grass forages have declined due to heat and drought. The 2007 growing season was exceptionally favorable for grass pastures due to frequent rainfall events. In spite of competition form grass forages, pigeonpea grew well in existing grass pastures and supplemented the grass forages. Preliminary data also suggests that pigeonpea will increase rainfall infiltration into the soil, thus conserving rainwater resources and preventing soil erosion. It is likely that the benefits of pigeonpea will be even more noticeable during growing seasons dominated by droughty conditions.

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