manja, NaikARUNKUMAR, AKKANNA2018-09-242018-09-242018-06-28Th-11965http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810074015The pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L) Millsp.] commonly known as redgram, tur and arhar is an erect and short lived perennial leguminous shrub. It belongs to the genus Cajanus of the sub-tribe cajaninae, tribe phaseolae of the sub-family papilionoidae under the family leguminosae. It is evolved in South Asia and appeared about 2000 BC in West Africa, which is considered as a second major centre of origin. Pigeonpea constitutes an important ingredient of predominantly Indian vegetarian food. Pigeonpea has 20 to 25 per cent of protein on dry seed basis, which is almost 2.50 to 3.0 times of the value normally found in the cereals (Tamboli and Lolage, 2008). It is often consumed as a vegetable in central India and in contrast in North India, it is eaten as dal. The pod husk and leaves are used as cattle feed and dried stalks as fuel in rural areas. It has ability to resist drought and to add large quantities of biomass to the soil in addition to biological nitrogen fixation.ennullThesis