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pigeon pea

Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.

Family: Fabaceae · Genus: Cajanus

cajan pea, red gram

Placenta I Low Fertilizer biomass 🌱 Nitrogen fixer 🪓 Coppices after cutting
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Short-cycle shrubby legume that fixes nitrogen, widely used in Brazilian agroforestry as green manure, early shade and food. Vigorous on poor soils.

📚 Synonyms

Scientific synonyms: Cajanus indicus Spreng., Cytisus cajan L., Cajanus flavus DC., Cajanus bicolor DC.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Placenta I
Ecological role
Pioneer
Primary stratum
Low
Strata
Low
Biomass class
Fertilizer biomass

Environment

Light requirement
Full sun
Water requirement
Low
Drought tolerance
High
Waterlogging tolerance
Low
Soil pH range
4.5–8.4
Preferred soil texture
Loamy, Sandy, Clayey
Hardiness zones
9–12
Frost tolerance
0.0 °C

Morphology

Mature height
1–4 m
Recommended spacing
0.35–1 m
Root system
Taproot
Root depth
Deep
Growth rate
Fast
Lifespan
≤ 5 years
Time to first harvest
6 months

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Pigeon pea takes the Low stratum in the Placenta I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time. It also fixes nitrogen, feeding the soil for its line neighbors.

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Emergent High Medium Low · ≈4 m Ground cover

🪴 Cultivation

Direct-sow at the onset of the rains, 2.5–10 cm deep, in 0.35–1.0 m rows; nodulates spontaneously (fixes ~40–235 kg N/ha, ~90–150 kg N/ha in Brazilian green-manure use). Cut/incorporate at or just before flowering (~3–4 months). Ratooning at 30–60 cm extends the stand to ~3 years; the deep taproot competes little, making it a good nurse/intercrop. Needs free drainage — poor tolerance of waterlogged soils.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: March, April, May, June

Fruiting months: April, May, June, July

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of pigeon pea?

The first harvest of pigeon pea comes around 6 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for pigeon pea?

The recommended spacing for pigeon pea is 0.35–1 m.

How tall does pigeon pea grow?

At maturity, pigeon pea reaches 1–4 m tall.

When does pigeon pea fruit?

Fruiting of pigeon pea occurs in April, May, June, July.

When does pigeon pea flower?

Flowering of pigeon pea occurs in March, April, May, June.

What stage and stratum does pigeon pea occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, pigeon pea belongs to the placenta i stage, occupying the low stratum.

Does pigeon pea fix nitrogen?

Yes — pigeon pea is a nitrogen-fixing species that helps fertilize the system's soil.

Functions

🌱 Nitrogen fixer 🌿 Biomass producer Fodder 🍎 Fruit 🪴 Nurse plant Living fence

Propagation

Seed

Citations

  1. Mongabay BR — Como agroflorestas adaptadas à Caatinga (cita andu)
  2. Feijão guandu na restauração de florestas tropicais — UEL
  3. Tropical Forages — Cajanus cajan (spacing_min_m, spacing_max_m, ph_min, ph_max, root_system, root_depth, waterlogging_tolerance, soil_texture_preference, frost_tolerance_c, cultivation_notes)
  4. Feedipedia — Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) (nitrogen_fixer, cultivation_notes, frost_tolerance_c)
  5. PFAF — Cajanus cajan (hardiness_zone_min, hardiness_zone_max)
  6. IPNI / Flora do Brasil — Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. (external_ids, synonyms)
  7. Biologia da Paisagem — Cajanus cajan (feijão-guandu), fenologia no Brasil (phenology)

External references

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