Pigeon pea is commonly intercropped with a wide range of crops.
In India, it was estimated that 80 - 90 % of the pigeon pea were intercropped: With cereals (sorghum, maize, pearl millet, finger millet and rainfed rice). With legumes (groundnut, cowpea, mung bean, black gram, soybean ).
With long season annuals (caster, cotton, sugarcane, and cassava).
Irrigation
Being a deep rooted crop, it can tolerate drought.
But in case of prolonged drought there is need of three irrigations (critical stages).
1st at branching stage (30 DAS)
2nd one in flowering stage (70 DAS) and
3rd at the time of podding stage (110 DAS).
Weed control
The first 60 days is very critical and harmful for the arhar crop.
Two mechanical weeding one at 20 - 25 days and another at 45 - 50 days after sowing but before flowering are required.
The Pre-emergence application of Pendimethalin @ 0.75 - 1 Kg a.i. per ha in 400-600 litre of water kills the germinating seedlings of weeds and keep the field weed free for the first 50 days.
