ASSESSMENT OF RATOONABILITY OF SHORT-DURATION PIGEONPEA GENOTYPES

The extent of variation in ratoonability was examined in a range of re cently bred short-duration pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] geno types in 1989/90, 1990/91 and 1991/92 at the ICRISAT Asia Center, Andh ra Pradesh, India. Traits with which this variation could be associate d were assessed. Differences in the total ratoon yield of two flushes were significant among the genotypes in each season. In a few genotype s, ratoon yield constituted 50 % of the total yield, which could be as high as 5.6 t/ha. Total ratoon yield was positively correlated with l eaf area index in the last 2 years of experimentation. The relationshi p of total ratoon yield to main crop yield was significantly positive in 1991/92 only. The results suggest that there is a large variation i n ratoonability among short-duration genotypes and that high leaf area retention at main crop maturity appears to contribute substantially t o this variation.