Pigeon Pea (Tur) Crop Cultivation in India: Techniques, Tips and Harvesting Practices

Table of Contents

• Introduction to Pigeon Pea (Tur) Farming
• What are the Different Varieties of Tur Grown in India?
• What is the Step-by-step Process of Tur Dal Cultivation in India?
  • Climate & Soil Requirements
  • Land Preparation
  • Seed Rate & Spacing
  • Seed Treatment & Sowing
  • Irrigation
  • Fertilizing & Manuring
  • Weed Management
  • Disease & Pest Control
  • Harvesting & Storage
  • Yield
• What is the Top Producing State of Tur Dal in India?

Introduction to Pigeon Pea (Tur) Farming

Pigeon pea is an annual legume from the family of Leguminosae. It is known by various names such as Red Gram, Pigeon Peas, Split Pigeon Peas, Arhar Dal and popularly Tur dal. Tur is known to be one of the oldest grown legumes in the world. Tur is the second most important pulse crop in the country.

It is commonly cooked and consumed in the form of split pulse (dal) and used to make various Indian dishes ranging from dal-fry to lentil fritters. Red Gram is rich in iron, iodine, and essential amino acids like lycine, threonine, cystine, and arginine. It is therefore seen as an important addition to everyday dietary needs.

What are the Different Varieties of Tur Grown in India?

Different varieties of Tur grown in India are commonly cultivated types that vary by state, yield and disease resistance. Here are some notable varieties:

AL-15: It is a popular short-duration variety that matures in 135 days. It yields around 5.5 quintals per acre and features clusters of pods.

AL 201: This is an early mature variety in which each pod contains 3-5 yellowish-brown and medium-sized seeds. Developed for northern regions, it matures in 140 days and yields an average of 6.2 quintals per acre.

PPH 4: This is a notable, high-yielding hybrid variety which matures in 145 days and gives an average yield of 7.2-8 qtl/acre. Its plants are tall, reaching 2.5 to 3 meters in height.

PAU 881 (2007): It is an early-maturing, indeterminate variety of Tur, which matures in 132 days and yields an average of 5.1 quintals per acre. Its plants reach a height of 2 meters and each pod contains about 3-5 yellow brown, medium-sized seeds.

AL 882 (2018): AL 882 is a highly prominent and early maturing variety of Tur widely in the northwestern plains. It matures in about 132 days and produces an average grain yield of 5.4 quintals per hectare.

IPA 206: This is a long-duration, high-yielding variety of Tur, recommended for cultivation in the Uttar Pradesh area. It takes 245 to 250 days to mature and produces a yield of 10q/acre.

What is the Step-by-step Process of Tur Dal Cultivation in India?

The Tur crop cultivation in India involves several steps, such as understanding the right climate and soil conditions, sowing, irrigation and harvesting & yield. Let’s discuss all the steps in detail:

Climate & Soil Requirements

Pigeon pea is a tropical crop, mainly cultivated in semi-arid regions of India. It can be grown at a temperature ranging from 26^oC to 30^oC in the kharif season (June to October) and 17^oC to 22^oC in the post-rainy (November to March) season. In terms of soil requirement, the crop thrives in deep, well-drained loamy soil with a pH ranging from 6.5 – 7.5.

Land Preparation

Red gram is deep-rooted crop. For this reason, it responds well to a properly ploughed and well-drained seed bed. You can start by ploughing the soil deeply into unused or fallow land. For low-lying areas or when growing two or more crops together, use the Broad Bed Furrow or Ridge and Furrow planting technique. At least one ploughing is required during the dry season, followed by 2 or 3 harrows and a disc plough. Clear the land from weeds and other debris, plough the field to a depth of 15-20 cm, and level the land.

Seed Rate & Spacing

The seed rate for pigeon pea differs based on factors, such as the desired plant density for different genotypes (early, medium, or late), the type of cropping system (pure, mixed, or intercropping), and the seed's germination capacity. For early-maturing types, a seed rate of 12–15 kg per hectare is recommended, with row spacing of 60–75 cm and plant spacing of 15–20 cm.

Seed Treatment & Sowing

Seeds should be treated with Carbendazim or Thiram@ 2 g/ per kg, 24 hours before sowing. A powder formulation of Trichoderma Viride@ 4g/ per kg or Pseudomonas fluorescens@ 10 g/per kg can also be used.

Pigeon pea (Tur) is typically sown as a Kharif (rainy season) crop. The recommended period for sowing the crop is between June to July, coinciding with the beginning of the monsoon season. However, in some areas, sowing is also done between the months of August and September. Seeds are sown with the help of a seed drill at a depth of about 5-6 cm.

Irrigation

Pigeon peas are naturally drought-tolerant and typically cultivated under rain-fed conditions. However, in those areas experiencing drought, light to moderate irrigation is necessary at key growth stages. The first irrigation should be applied three to four weeks after sowing, followed by the second during the flowering phase (around 70 days after sowing), and the third during pod formation (approximately 110 days after sowing).

During dry spells, weekly irrigation is recommended, while in the rainy season, watering every two weeks is sufficient. Overwatering should be avoided, and good drainage and aeration should be ensured in order to avoid root damage.

Fertilizing & Manuring

Weed Management

For weed management in Tur crop, carry out two mechanical weeding’s: one at 20–25 days after sowing and another at 45–50 days, before flowering. Apply Pendimethalin at 1ltr/acre and in 150-200 liters of water, within 2 days after sowing to prevent weed growth for about 50 days.

Disease & Pest Control

Some of the most common diseases seen in Pigeon Pea are Wilt, Sterility mosaic disease, Phytophthora blight, Alternaria blight, and Powdery mildew. The wilt and stem rot can be controlled by using resistant varieties, providing well-drained soil conditions, and adopting a nice crop rotation. The sterility mosaic can be controlled by using Spray Fenazaquin 10% EC @ 300 ml/acre with 200 Ltr water.

Common insect and pest infestation in Tur crops include pod borers, Tur pod fly, plume moths, hairy caterpillars, leaf hoppers, bean flies, etc. Most of the insects or almost all of them can be killed by spraying of 0.2 to 0.3 percent solution of Endosulfan 35 EC or Nuvacrone 40 EC. The spraying should be repeated for their complete control and if needed a higher concentration of 0.4 or 0.5 percent may be used for spraying.

Harvesting & Storage

Arhar is ready for harvesting in 5-6 months after planting. The crop is harvested when two-thirds to three-fourths of pods become brown. The plants are usually cut with a sickle to 75-25 cm above ground. After that, keep bundles of plants for drying purposes. Grains are removed from plants by using a thresher machine or by traditionally, i.e. beating plants with sticks.

Yield

Pigeon peas typically produce about 25–30 quintals per hectare under irrigated conditions and 15–20 quintals per hectare under rained (un-irrigated) conditions. Depending on the variety and the local climate, it can also yield 50–60 quintals per hectare of sticks, which are often used as fuel.

What is the Top Producing State of Tur Dal in India?

As per the data published in APEDA, the total tur production in India in 2024-25 was 3,623.85 thousand tons. The top 10 Tur producing states in India in 2024-25 are: