<div>Background: To study effect of various spacing and weed management practices on weed control, growth parameter, yield and yield attributes of pigeon pea variety Pusa Arhar-16, field experiments were conducted at Student&rsquo;s Research Farm, Khalsa College Amritsar, Punjab, India during kharif season of 2019-20. 
 
Methods: The experiment was laid out in Split plot design with three replications. The treatments comprised of four different spacing i.e. S1 (30&times;10 cm), S2 (30&times;15 cm), S3 (40&times;15 cm) and S4 (50&times;25 cm) which were considered as main plot treatments and three weed management practices W1 (weedy check), W2 (pendimethalin @ 1.5 kg a.i. ha-1 at 1DAS) and W3 (rice straw mulch) as sub-plot treatments. 
 
Result: It was found that maximum plant height (218.2 cm) and highest leaf area index (2.104) was recorded in treatment S1 (30&times;10 cm) whereas treatment S4 (50&times;25 cm) was superior in rest of growth parameters viz. maximum crop growth rate (0.85 gram per plant per day), number of primary branches (18.2 per plant) and number of secondary branches (13.8 per plant). Among yield and yield attributes, spacing S1 (30&times;10 cm) showed maximum grain yield (16.29 q ha-1) and stover yield (49.29 q ha-1) whereas, maximum number of pods per plant (154.6), pod length (4.83 cm), number of seeds per pod (3.90) and 100-seed weight (7.14 grams) were recorded in spacing S4 (50&times;25 cm). The weed management treatments showed non-significant effect on growth and yield parameters due to weed suppressing ability of the crop. which might be due to weed suppressing ability of the crop. It may be concluded that pigeon pea cultivar Pusa Arhar-16 performed better in narrower spacing of 30&times;10 cm due to its dwarf nature and it also showed good smothering effect on the weeds due to its smothering effect.</div>

<div>Effect of Different Spacing and Weed Management Practices on Weeds, Crop Growth and Productivity of Pigeon Pea Variety Pusa Arhar-16</div>

<div>Background: Pulses are the major source of protein and is widely used to fulfill protein requirement of the growing population. Perennial pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] is a predominant crop grown in kharif season, also known as Red gram, Arhar or Tur. The present study aimed to correlate yield of C. cajan with growth and soil properties under agroforestry system in Madhya Pradesh. 
 
Methods: An experiment was conducted to assess the yield of Cajanus cajan under agroforestry system at Tropical Forest Research Institute, Jabalpur during the year 2020-2021. In this study Cajanus cajan (Arhar) intercropped with Pterocarpus marsupium (Bijasal) and Psidium guajava (guava) under silvi-horti-agri system. During study period, growth parameters such as height, no. of pods and no. of branches of C. cajan were recorded and soil properties such as Soil pH, EC, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium were also estimated before sowing and at the time of harvesting of agriculture crop. 
 
Result: Study revealed that yield has highly significant positive correlation with an average plant height (0.4735), no. of pods/plant (0.2558) and no. of branches/plant (0.3765), another result shows that yield has highly significant correlation with organic carbon % (0.7966), nitrogen content of soil (0.3049), Potassium (0.3036), Phosphorus (0.6244) and has negative correlation with pH of soil (-0.9336) and EC (-0.8740) at 5% level of significance. Similarly, correlation of yield with soil parameters at the time of harvesting and the results revealed that the yield has positive correlation with organic carbon % (0.5277), nitrogen content of soil (0.1102), Potassium (0.2324), Phosphorus (0.7118) and has negative correlation with pH of soil (-0.4861) and EC (-0.3853) at 5% level of significance.</div>

​Correlation Analysis of Yield with Yield Attributing Characters and Soil Properties of Cajanus cajan (Arhar) in Silvi-horti-agri System

Yield gap is an important aspect as it affects production. There is a need to take up in depth analysis of yield gap for narrowing down the yield gap between the farmers fields and demonstration plots. &nbsp;It may not always possible for the farmers to raise the crop productivity on their farm to the level of research station. &nbsp;However, it would be realizable to aim at demonstration plot yield. Hence in this study more emphasis is given to yield gap II. &nbsp;i.e. difference between demonstration plot yield and farmers field. The study was based on the secondery data collected from Agricultural Prices Scheme, Dr. PDKV, Akola for the year 2014 -15. &nbsp;In all 120 Arhar growing farmers from Akola, Buldhana and Amaravati district were selected. It is observed that total Yield gap was highest in low adopter (6.81 qt/ha) and less in high adopter &nbsp;(1.87 qt)/ha.

Economic analysis of yield gap of Arhar (Cajnus cajan) in&nbsp;Vidarbha region of India

Background: Nutri cereal - Legume intercrop systems are particularly beneficial in North Eastern Zone of Tamil Nadu, which are characterized by high levels of malnutrition, resource limitation and rainfall variability. These conditions are further exacerbated by climate-related risks and uncertainty. Apart from enhancing water and nutrient use efficiency, improving soil fertility and financial gains, Millet-legume intercrop systems have become a better bet for increased food and nutrition security in marginal farming communities. 
 
Methods: A study conducted during the year of 2022 to 2024 at the Center of Excellence in Millet, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Athiyandal, Tamil Nadu. The study evaluated various intercropping ratios of finger millet with black gram and red gram across seven treatments, focusing on productivity, compatibility and economic viability. 
 
Result: Results indicated that intercropping finger millet with black gram at a 4:1 ratio produced taller plants (92.7 cm), more protective tillers (5.7 per plant), extensive root systems (19.9 cm), and higher chlorophyll content (3.67 mg/g). This combination resulted in the highest equivalent grain yield (2895 kg/ha) and demonstrated a favourable benefit-to-cost ratio (2.84), highlighting its potential for improving profitability and soil fertility. Conversely, intercropping with red gram yielded lower finger millet yields and less favourable economic returns, underscoring the importance of selecting suitable intercrops to maximize agricultural productivity and sustainability.

Econometric Analysis and Intercropping Nutri-Cereals with Legumes (Urad Bean, Arhar) on Climate Resilience in North Eastern Zone of Tamil Nadu

<div>Background: The field experiment was conducted to evaluate pigeon pea varieties viz., AL 882 and Pusa Arhar 16 under different spacing in Amritsar region&rdquo; during kharif season 2019-2020 at Students&rsquo; Research Farm, Department of Agriculture, Khalsa College, Amritsar.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (factorial), replicated thrice. There were six treatments of spacing S1 (30&nbsp;&times; 12.5), S2 (40 &times; 12.5), S3 (50 &times; 12.5), S4 (30 &times; 25), S5 (40 &times; 25), S6 (50 &times; 25cm) and two varieties V1 (Pusa Arhar 16) and V2 (AL 882). All the cultural practices were performed to get maximum productivity of pigeonpea from each plot.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The results revealed that cv. AL 882 performed better under spacing 30 &times; 12.5 cm for growth parameters such as plant height and LAI whereas dry matter accumulation, crop growth rate and number of primary and secondary branches were significantly higher in spacing 50 &times; 25 cm. Among yield attributes, cv. AL 882 showed significantly higher number of pods per plant, pod length (cm), number of seeds per plant and 100 seed weight (g) under spacing 50 &times; 25 cm than cv. Pusa Arhar 16. However, seed yield was maximum in wider spacing (50 &times; 25 cm) and narrow spacing (30 &times; 12.5 cm) with cv. AL 882 and Pusa Arhar 16, respectively. However, both varieties produced highest stover and biological yield under narrow spacing 30 &times; 12.5 cm.</div>

Influence of Varieties and Spacings on Growth, Yield Attributes and Productivity of Pigeonpea

<div style="text-align: justify;">Rajasthan is a major producer of pulses along with Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. In 2013-14 Rajasthan had total area of 4197.7 thousand hectares under pulses with production of 2490.9 thousand tones and productivity of 593 kgs/ha. Moong and moth in kharif season and gram in rabi season are grown extensively in Rajasthan. The study is primarily based on plot-level data collected from the 600 representative households of 60 tehsils for block period (2008-09 to 2010-11) for Rajasthan under CCS scheme of Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India, New Delhi. The study examined the nutrient consumption level, nutrient and irrigation subsidies availed by the pulses per hectare. The net returns of various pulses to the farmer, to the society and to the environment were estimated across zones. Pea, arhar, lentil and black gram were the pulses providing highest net return to the farmer at market price. After deducting the cost of subsidies which is a cost to the society, moong and gram in arid and semiarid zones and pea and arhar in central and south eastern humid zones gave highest net return at economic price. The estimated results for technical, allocative and cost efficiency indicated that the farmers were not operating at optimal scale and there is large scope for increasing output through factors which are under control of farmers. Lentil and arhar were most technical and cost efficient pulse crops while moong is the least technical and cost efficient pulse. In most of the pulses, on an average, the overwhelming cause of inefficiency is technical rather than allocative.</div>

Returns from pulses in different regions of rajasthan at alternative price scenarios

Background: The cold stress adversely affects the growth, survival and reproductive capacity of plants if the minimum temperature falls below 5&deg;C. Information&rsquo;s regarding cold stress and its impact on morphological characters, physio-biochemical constituents and yield attributes in cold tolerant and susceptible pigeon pea genotypes are very limited. Keeping the above facts in to consideration, the experiments were conducted. 
 
Methods: Field experiments were conducted during 2018-19 and 2019-20 with 34 genotypes of pigeon pea including checks (NDA-1, Bahar, IPA203, NDA-2, MAL-13, ICP2275, IPACT-2, MA-6, IPACT-3, IPACT-24, Rajendra Arhar, IPA15F, Dholi-D, JBT46/27, IPACT-6, IPACT-14, IPAD1-17, IPAC 68, IPACT 22, ICPL 7035 IPA19-101, IPA19-102, IPA19-103, IPA19-104, IPA19-105, IPA19-106, IPA19-107, IPA19-108, IPA19-109, IPA19-110, IPA19-111, IPA19-112, IPA19-113, IPA19-114) in RBD at ICAR-IIPR, Kanpur. Morphological and yield Characters including plant height, scoring of cold injury in exposed plants and Number of flower drop and pod set during the cold period in tagged plants were recorded. In biochemical/ crop efficiency parameters viz: Nitrogen balance index, chlorophyll, flavonols, anthocyanin&rsquo;s and NDVI were measured. The photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate were measured at the pod formation stage. Anti-oxidant enzymes activity was assayed as per standard methods. Meteorological observations during Cold stress were recorded. 
 
Result: Based on flower/pod drop and retention the genotypes like IPA 15F, Dholi dwarf, JBT46/27, IPACT-6, IPACT-14, IPAC-1-17, IPACT-68, IPACT-22, IPA 19-101, IPA 19-102, IPA 19-103, IPA 19-104, IPA 19-105, IPA 19-107, IPA 19-108, IPA 19-109, IPA 19-110, IPA 19-111 and IPA 19-113 were found susceptible to cold stress and retaining an average 51.67 % flowers/pods. Genotypes like NDA-2, MAL-13, ICP2275, IPACT-2, MA-6, IPACT-3, IPACT-24, Rajendra arhar, IPA19-106, IPA19-112 and IPA19-114 have retained more than an average of 67.48% flowers/pods are considered tolerant to cold stress. Amongst the tolerant group NDA-2, MAL-13, ICP2275, IPACT-2, IPA19-106, IPA19-112 retained the flower/pod more than the average of check genotypes (67.57%).&nbsp; Biochemical/plant efficiency parameters were superior in tolerant group over susceptible group.

Physiological Characterization of Cold Tolerant and Susceptible Pigeon Pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] Genotypes

Background: The per capita net availability of pulses in India has been increased from 15.5 kg per year in 2018-19 to 19.6 kg in 2021-22. Efforts made to bridge the gap between demand and supply of pulses in the country has resulted in reducing the gap to some extent in recent years and still country is depended on import to meet the growing demand of the pulses such as pigeon pea, lentils and peas. Few studies predicted the demand and supply of pulses as a whole in the country and no studies analyzed the pulse wise demand supply gap in India. Hence, the present study was proposed to predict the demand and supply of major pulses such as chickpea (Gram/Chana), pigeon pea (Tur/Arhar), black gram (urd bean), mung bean (Green gram) and lentil (Masur) in India for a period, 2024-2030. 
 
Methods: The present study has been used the crop data on area, production and yield of major pulses including chickpea (Gram/Chana), pigeon pea (Tur/Arhar), black gram (urd bean), mung bean (Green gram) and lentil (Masur) for a period of 29 years (1985-2024) collected from the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of India, New Delhi. Household consumption expenditure data was collected from the National Sample Survey office for 2011-12 from the Government of India. The supply projection was estimated by using linear regression model and demand projections were done by using behaviouristic approach. 
 
Result: Decadal trend in area, production and yield of pulses from 1970-2010 showed mixed trends of increase and decrease, whereas in 2010-2020, chickpea, pigeon pea, mung bean and black gram showed positive trend in area, production and yield but lentil alone showed negative trend in production. Import dependency of the pulses in the total availability has reduced to 8.92 per cent in 2021-22 from 19.42 per cent in 2009-10. Import dependency of the pulses in the total availability has reduced to 8.92 per cent in 2021-22 from 19.42 per cent in 2009-10. The availability of pulses has grown at a rate of 3.73 per cent from 2009 to 2021. Chick Pea, Tur, Mung bean, Urd bean and Lentils together contributed on an average 88.7 per cent to the total pulses production and 83.73 per cent of pulses availability from 2013 to 2021. Production of these five pulses has increased to 23.04 million tonnes in 2020-21 from 17.3 million tonnes from 2013-14. Gram is the single pulse contributed more than 40 per cent of the pulse production of the country in the above period. Demand supply projection showed a net surplus of 0.81-3.89 mt in the case of pulses and 5.64 -7.63 mt in the case of gram and 0.89 to 1.91 mt in Urd and 0.68 to 1.57 mt in Mung bean during 2024-2030. But in the case of pigeon pea and lentil there may be a net deficit in the range of 3-2.42 and 1.13-1.04 mt, respectively, during 2024-2030. Efforts should be made to bridge the gap in demand and supply of pigeon pea and lentil by the way of bringing new areas under pulses and developing the technologies suitable for the clusters.

Demand and Supply Projections for Pulses in India

<div>Enhancement of salt tolerance by pretreatment with sublethal dose of NaCl (50mM) has been investigated in arhar (Cajanas cajan L.) and maskalai (Vigna mungo L.) seedlings. Degradation of photosynthetic pigments in both the NaCl stressed legume cultivars resulted in less photosynthetic activity to occur. This was evident from reduced Hill activity recorded. NaCl stress hampered stomatal conductance that subsequently affected internal CO2 concentration, net photosynthetic rate and also transpiration rate. Both the tested cultivars accumulated polyamines to limit cellular damage under such stressed conditions. Increased level of (Spermine+Spermidine)/Putrescine ratio and decreased level of cadavarine were observed in the nonpretreated seedlings grown under NaCl stress. However, seed pretreatment with 50mM NaCl for two hours helped the cultivars to overcome adverse effects caused by NaCl stress on stomatal activity, gas exchange parameters and polyamine contents that resulted the cultivars to acclimate such that it improved their metabolism under saline conditions.</div>

<div>Salt induced inhibition in photosynthetic parameters and polyamine accumulation in two legume cultivars and its amelioration by pretreatment of seeds with NaCl</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Pulses are popularly known as poor man&rsquo;s meat. Pulses mainly constituted of gram, arhar, mung, urad and lentil etc. The energy content of most pulses have been found to be between 300 and 540 Kcal/100g. India &nbsp;is &nbsp;the &nbsp;largest &nbsp;producer &nbsp;and &nbsp;consumer &nbsp;of &nbsp;pulses &nbsp;in &nbsp;the &nbsp;world contributing around 14.36% of the total global production. Decision support system (DSS) has been designed and developed using a visual basic platform for major pulse crops grown in India. The main objective is to provide decision support regarding recommended water, weed, pest and diseases management, state wise varieties and nutrient management based on the soil test value to the farmer, agriculture workers, students, research workers, extension workers and others, even in absence of the experts. The system is console application, menu driven and user friendly. A sincere effort has been made with the available data to develop the decision support system to bridge the gap between the farmers and the experts using visual basic platform.</div>

Effect of Different Spacing and Weed Management Practices on Weeds, Crop Growth and Productivity of Pigeon Pea Variety Pusa Arhar-16

Correlation Analysis of Yield with Yield Attributing Characters and Soil Properties of Cajanus cajan (Arhar) in Silvi-horti-agri System

Economic analysis of yield gap of Arhar (Cajnus cajan) in Vidarbha region of India

Econometric Analysis and Intercropping Nutri-Cereals with Legumes (Urad Bean, Arhar) on Climate Resilience in North Eastern Zone of Tamil Nadu

Influence of Varieties and Spacings on Growth, Yield Attributes and Productivity of Pigeonpea

Returns from pulses in different regions of rajasthan at alternative price scenarios

Physiological Characterization of Cold Tolerant and Susceptible Pigeon Pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] Genotypes

Demand and Supply Projections for Pulses in India

Salt induced inhibition in photosynthetic parameters and polyamine accumulation in two legume cultivars and its amelioration by pretreatment of seeds with NaCl

Decision Support System (DSS) on Pulses in India