Progress 10/01/13 to 08/31/15
Outputs
Target Audience:This project sought to involve TSU college students in the conduct of research and provide extension of information to farmer groups. Changes/Problems:Due to the official retirement of the OPI from TSU in the SECOND year of the project, the following changes/alterations were made inthe Major Goals of the project (to be reflected in Non-Technical Summary of this project): REVISED Major Goals of the project: The overall goal of this studywas to investigate pigeon pea potential as a summer annual legume crop. The proposed research evaluated the agronomic feasibility of growing pigeon pea as a niche crop for small-holder agriculture in Tennessee. A two-year field study wasconducted at the TSU Nashville Agriculture Research and Extension Center (AREC) to evaluate the effects of selected agronomic management factors onpigeon pea biomass, and on its grain yield. Two varieties of pigeon pea (Georgia 1 and Georgia 2) were studied in relationship to cropping systems, tillage methods, and row spacing during the 2013 and 2014 growing seasons. Treatments were: Two varieties of mono-cropped pigeon pea and pigeon pea intercropped with field-corn plantedby conventional tillage and a no-till planting system using spacings of 20" and 40" between rows. These sixteen combinations were planted in three replications. The study was conducted on an Armour silt loam soil (fine-silty, mixed, active, thermic ultic hapludalf) in Nashville, Tennessee (USA). What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project provided experiential learning opportunities for students in the following specific areas: (1) design of experiments, (2) data collection and soil plant chemical analyses. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Farm Fact sheets were given out to attendees at the yearly Small Farm Expo and field demonstrations at Tennesse State Unversity in 2014 and 2015. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?This IS the final report.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The overall goal of this studywas to investigate pigeon pea potential as a summer annual legume crop. The proposed research evaluated the agronomic feasibility of growing pigeon pea as a niche crop for small-holder agriculture in Tennessee. A two-year field study wasconducted at the TSU Nashville Agriculture Research and Extension Center (AREC) to evaluate the effects of selected agronomic management factors onpigeon pea biomass, and on its grain yield. Two varieties of pigeon pea (Georgia 1 and Georgia 2) were studied in relationship to cropping systems, tillage methods, and row spacing during the 2013 and 2014 growing seasons. Treatments were: Two varieties of mono-cropped pigeon pea and pigeon pea intercropped with field-corn plantedby conventional tillage and a no-till planting system using spacings of 20" and 40" between rows. These sixteen combinations were planted in three replications. The study was conducted on an Armour silt loam soil (fine-silty, mixed, active, thermic ultic hapludalf) in Nashville, Tennessee (USA). Pigeon pea field performance, biomass, seed yield and crude protein content were determined. Corn yields were also measured to determine synergistic effects of intercropping. Between years, significant differences existed for field performance, biomass, and seed yield, likely due to earlier planting in 2014. Plant height, stem diameter, podset, canopy coverage, and other variables, were influenced by variety and cropping system in most cases, while spacing and tillage had limited effects. Grain crude protein content was generally unaffected by any of the treatments. Intercropping with corn will likely increase cost for weed control, harvest, and fertilizer, while decreasing yield and biomass for both varieties. Corn was not mechanically harvestable until pigeon pea maturity, increasing harvest loss due to weather and pests. Results indicated that early planting and use of short-day varieties will increase pigeon pea yield in Middle Tennessee (USA). Mono-cropping of pigeon pea is likely to decrease costs in a mechanized farming operation.
Publications
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Duseja, D., A. Lotze and F. Yuldashev. 2014. Promoting Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp) Production for Limited Resource Farmers of Tennessee as a Food, Forage and Soil Improving Cover Crop. Poster Pater, TSU 2014 Small Farms Expo., TSU.
Lotze, Andrew. 2015. Field performance, yield and crude protein content of two varieties of pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan] as affected by tillage, spacing and intercropping with corn [Zea mays]. MS Thesis. Tennessee State University.
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: This project seeks involved students (both graduate and undergraduate) in the conduct of research and provide extension of information to farmer groups. Information about adaptability/production was disseminated through diverse means including the TSU Cooperative Extension web site, facts sheets and field demonstrations to area farmers/producers and local school teachers/visiting students. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? This project provided experiential learning opportunities for students in the following specific areas: (1) design of experiments, (2) data collection (production and marketing) and analyses, and (3) effective design of extension and outreach programs. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Farm Fact sheets were given out to attendees at the yearly Small Farm Expo and at field demonstration at Tennesse State Unversity. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Another field study will be conducted next year(Summer 2014) at the TSU Nashville Agricultural Research and Extension Center (AREC) to evaluate the effects of selected agronomic management factors on the soil physical and chemical properties, on pigeon pea biomass and root growth, and on its grain yield and stalk biomass potential. Effects of row spacing, summer cover crop, and intercropping with sweet corn (Zea mays) as a companion crop on the field performance and yield of two selected pigeon pea cultivars will be evaluated annually for three years. Experiment design will be a split-plot statistical design with three replications, as before. Soil quality parameters to be annually evaluated as a function of time will be: soil bulk density, soil aggregate stability, organic matter, pH, water holding capacity, and infiltration. CO2 emissions will be measured, and water use efficiency (WUE) will be calculated. Pigeon pea crop performance will be monitored throughout the season; leaf area index (LAI) and transpiration rates will be determined. Grain and biomass (root and stalk) yields will be obtained. Stalks will be chemically analyzed for TDN, crude fiber and protein and other forage quality parameters as a function of time. Student experiential research learning and outreach efforts will be made involving both graduate and undergraduate students in the conduct of research, and providing extension information to farmer groups. Information about adaptability/production will be disseminated through diverse means including the TSU Cooperative Extension web site, facts sheets and field demonstrations to area farmers/producers and local school teachers/visiting students.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Two goals of this study FOR THIS YEAR to investigate pigeon pea potential were accomplished: (1) a summer annual legume as a soil improving cover crop; (2) a source of summer forage. These forage samples have been collected and will be chemically analyzed for forage quality.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Duseja, D., A. Lotze and F. Yuldashev. 2014. Promoting Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp) Production for Limited Resource Farmers of Tennessee as a Food, Forage and Soil Improving Cover Crop. Poster Pater, TSU 2014 Small Farms Expo.
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