Enhancing Sustainability with Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan (l.) Millsp) Based Cropping Systems in India: Insights and Practices

Abstract

Intercropping systems involving pigeon pea significantly enhance productivity, economic returns, and land-use efficiency compared to sole cropping systems. Studies highlight that transplanting 4–5-week-old pigeon pea seedlings, particularly with finger millet, soybean, or mungbean, improves pigeon pea equivalent yield (PEY), land equivalent ratio (LER), and net returns due to better resource utilization and reduced competition. Legume-based intercropping systems leverage complementary nutrient dynamics and higher market value, achieving superior returns. Integrated nutrient management (INM) further optimizes growth, yield, and soil fertility, enhancing system sustainability. Strategic planting geometries, such as paired rows and additive systems, maximize the synergy between crops, while spatial arrangements like pigeon pea + black gram-wheat sequences yield high productivity (17.70 q ha⁻¹) and profitability (₹23,867 ha⁻¹). Utilizing nitrogen-fixing legumes in rotation systems significantly boosts land-use efficiency and energy utilization. Conventional tillage systems improve yields of pigeon pea and finger millet through enhanced weed control, while INM strategies provide synchronized nutrient supply in rotation systems, optimizing grain and straw yields. Intercropping pigeon peas with sorghum or sunflower notably reduces pod damage and wilt incidence. These systems also promote ecological benefits, such as enhanced activity of predators, parasitoids, and insectivorous birds, which mitigate pest populations. Integrated pest management (IPM) within intercropping systems further reduces pod borer damage and improves productivity. For instance, pigeon pea intercropped with sorghum recorded reduced pest incidence, lower pod damage, and higher productivity compared to sole cropping. These benefits stem from intercrop-emitted volatile compounds that deter pests and encourage predator activity. Overall, the adoption of intercropping systems with pigeon pea, coupled with INM and IPM practices, ensures sustainable intensification of agriculture by enhancing productivity, profitability, and ecological balance while maintaining soil health. This makes intercropping a vital strategy for achieving sustainable agricultural growth.