Background:
In NWPZ, the existing high yielding Pigeonpea varieties are of 140 to 145 days. These varieties mature by the end of November. Thus, after harvest of these varieties very little time is available for land preparation and most of the higher yielding wheat varieties can not be sown timely. Moreover, crops like chickpea and mustard can not be grown after November end. Few early maturing varieties of pigeon pea earlier released do not have higher yield. Moreover, most of these released varieties have very tall stature and have spreading canopy thus insecticide can not be applied properly by the Sprayers. Also the spreading type of plant type leads to lesser plants per unit area. Also mechanized harvesting of these varieties is not possible. Thus, looking to this practical problem there was an urgent need of a variety, which is extra early maturing (by the first week of October) so that choice of wheat varieties that can be sown is increased and chickpea and mustard can be sown after harvest of pigeonpea. Also variety should have semierect plant type with suitability for high density planting. Farmers of this zone is dire need of the extra early maturing, semi-dwarf plant type, suitable for mechanized harvesting. Technology Details:
Pusa Arhar 16 is extra early (120 days) maturing, semi-dwarf (120 cm), determinate, high yielding variety with semi-erect compact plant type suitable for high density planting and combine harvesting. Due to its extra early maturity, following crop of mustard/potato/wheat can be grown after its harvesting. Extra early maturity enables it to mature earlier and reduce damage due to insects. This variety is suitable for planting with close row-to-row spacing of 30 cm and harvesting by Combine as there is semi-erect and semi-dwarf plant type with synchronous maturity. Its semidwarf stature makes it easier to carry out application of insecticide with knap sack sprayer. In pigeonpea efficient and timely application of insecticide is very much important to control insect pests specifically blister beetle, maruka, pod borer and pod bug.