Pigeonpea for food and shelter

Trials by ICRISAT International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics) scientists in India, Malawi, Nigeria and northern Australia suggest that perennial pigeonpea can produce as much biomass as Leucaena leucocephala, which is the most productive tree species in the world. Pigeonpea produces food, fodder, firewood; even its leaf litter improves soil fertility. On a shallow, black, clayey soil (vertisol) at the ICRISAT's Centre in India, perennial pigeonnea produces a total of 15 tonnes/hectare of dry biomass composed of two t/ha grain, three t/ha leaf litter, nine t/ha stems, and one t/ha crop residue left on the field. ICRISAT scientists have demonstrated its usefulness by building a hut of the thin stalks and a fence of the thick stalks. ICRISAT - Patancheru - Andhra Pradesh 502 324 - INDIATrials by ICRISAT International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics) scientists in India, Malawi, Nigeria and northern Australia suggest that perennial pigeonpea can produce as much biomass as Leucaena leucocephala, which is the most..