Pigeon Pea Cultivation: Expert Tips to Combat Pests and Diseases for Higher Yields

• Dr. Vinod Nirmalkar, an agricultural pathologist from Bilaspur, provided expert advice on identifying and controlling pests and diseases in pigeon pea.
• The pod borer pest is a major threat, damaging pods and grains; timely pesticide spraying (2 liters per acre) is crucial.
• Wilt disease, common during pod formation, causes leaves to shrivel, prevents flowering, and dries up plants, significantly impacting yield.
• For wilt and pest control, farmers can spray Chlorpyrifos or Imidacloprid 17.8% SL (5-6 ml per sprayer of water).
• Seed treatment with Trichoderma and Pseudomonas, along with soil treatment using well-rotted cow dung, is essential to prevent wilt and enhance soil health.

Why It Matters: Timely identification, proper seed/soil treatment, and correct pesticide application are vital for pigeon pea crop protection.