Previous Year Question

Cowpea, green gram and pigeon pea are all members of the Fabaceae or legume family. Rhizobium bacteria present in their root nodules biologically fix atmospheric nitrogen. Consequently, besides producing food, these crops are also useful for animal nutrition and the improvement of soil fertility.

Cowpea: The dry seeds of cowpea are consumed as pulse, while its tender pods are used as a vegetable. Its green plants and post-harvest residues provide nutritious animal fodder. Because of its rapid growth and substantial green biomass, it is also cultivated as a green-manure or cover crop. When incorporated into the soil, its biomass supplies organic matter and nitrogen.

Green gram: Green gram seeds are consumed as pulse. Its plants and crop residues can be fed to livestock as fodder. Green gram is a short-duration crop and can therefore be grown between principal crops or within a crop rotation and incorporated into the soil before flowering. In this manner, it acts as green manure and adds organic matter and biologically fixed nitrogen to the soil.

Pigeon pea: Mature pigeon pea seeds are used as a major pulse. Its leaves, tender branches and crop residues serve as animal fodder. Its green biomass can also be incorporated into the soil as green manure. Its deep roots obtain nutrients from the lower soil layers; through leaf fall, root residues and biological nitrogen fixation, it improves soil fertility.

Therefore, cowpea, green gram and pigeon pea—all three are used as pulse, fodder and green manure.