Cajanus cajanifolius is the progenitor of the cultivated species Cajanus cajan – the redgram. The protein content is 22%. The centre of origin is India. On mountain slopes, it is cultivated for erosion control. Optimum temperature range is 20-280C. 58 growing degrees are required for redgram as against the 70-75 degree days of soybean and groundnut. This crop can’t tolerate waterlogging and frost. Well, adapted to drought condition. Salinity tolerant; thrives well in 5-8 pH. The salinity tolerant gene from rice is inserted in to the redgram. LAI is in the range of 4-6. Profuse flowering is observed. Flower dropping is more resulted in poor pod setting ratio. Harvest index is very less 0.11 to 0.22. 90x30 cm and 50x20 cm are the recommended spacings. 20-30 kg is the seed rate recommended. Ragi+ redgram, sorghum + redgram, pearlmillet + redgram and groundnut + redgarm are some of the intercropping systems practiced in India. 90% yield loss is obtained due to weeds. 30 days is the critical crop weed competition period. Pod borer is the major pest of redgram. Prophylactic spray of indoxacarb is recommended. Wilt is the major disease for which resistance varieties are evolved.
Redgram, Climate Resilient Crop, Intercrop
