Establishing pigeon pea as a summer pulse crop in the Northern Region

The northern grains industry is seeking a more reliable summer legume option for hotter, drier farming environments where current commercial options are limited. While mungbean and soybean are well-established in some parts of the northern region, their higher water requirements and sensitivity to heat, seasonal stress and limited stored soil moisture can make them less dependable in lower-rainfall areas. This limits growers’ ability to confidently include a summer legume in rotations, reducing opportunities to improve system diversity, nitrogen inputs and overall farming system resilience.