Pigeon Pea inoculant program (Cajanus cajan)
A resilient, deep-rooted legume central to farming systems in India and East Africa. India alone grows about 63% of the world’s pigeon pea.
The challenge
A long-season crop with high cumulative nitrogen demand, usually grown in low-input smallholder systems where native rhizobia are often sparse, so much of its fixation potential goes uncaptured.
140 kg N/ha — what a well-nodulated pigeon pea can fix — over 90% of its vegetative nitrogen — most of it lost where native rhizobia are sparse.
A pillar of smallholder farming
Deep-rooted and resilient, pigeon pea anchors cropping systems across India and East Africa; India alone grows about 63% of the world’s crop.
A long season, a big nitrogen bill
Its extended cycle builds a high cumulative nitrogen demand — a bill that only strong biological fixation can meet without heavy fertilizer.
Grown where rhizobia are thin
In the low-input systems where it is raised, resident nodulating bacteria are often sparse, so most of the crop’s fixation potential goes uncaptured.
The program
- Nodu™ PP — establishes a season-long Bradyrhizobium symbiosis
- Vigor™ — supports root development in low-input systems
- Orvan™ — couples that fixation with biocontrol
Field-proven
Across 36 sites in 4 provinces (Yunnan, Guangxi, Hainan; 2022–2024): +12.6% average yield, up to 4.1× more nodules, nitrogenase up to 3.8×, and up to 140 kg N/ha fixed, meeting over 90% of the crop’s vegetative nitrogen and leaving ~30–40 kg N/ha for the next crop.
Rhizobial fit
Pigeon pea is nodulated by the cowpea-miscellany Bradyrhizobium group (Cajanus). Nodu™ PP is matched to local Bradyrhizobium; inoculation pays off most where resident nodulating bacteria fall below ~10³/g soil, common in the low-input systems where pigeon pea is grown. Orvan™ amplifies native populations.
By product
- Orvan™ (Orvan™ Pigeonpea): +12.6% yield, up to 4.1× more nodules; 36 sites / 4 provinces. Nitrogen-fixation potentiation.
- Nodu™ (Nodu™ PP, Bradyrhizobium (Cajanus group)): +8.9% · 18 sites; Up to ~140 kg N/ha, 90%+ of vegetative N; ~30–40 left for next crop.
- Vigor™ (PGPR): +8.6% · 14 sites.
How to use
At sowing: Nodu™ PP 3–5 g/kg seed; Orvan™ Seed/Coat; well suited to intercropped and ratoon systems.