Phosphorus Nutrition of Grain Legumes in the Semi-Arid Tropics

Phosphorus deficiency is a major constraint to legume production in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in acid soils. Responses of chickpea and pigeonpea to phosphorus in South Asia on predominantly neutral to alkaline soils, however, have been less than expected even when standard soil-test values indicate low availability of soil P. This apparent enigma provided the theme for a special project conducted at ICRISAT Center from 1985 to 1989, in cooperation with the Tropical Agriculture Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, Japan. The Government of Japan (GOJ) provided funding for employment and support of three Japanese scientists to work at ICRISAT Center to tackle this research problem. Such special projects allow more in-depth study of particular problems than would otherwise be possible with regular ICRISAT staff and resources and given the Institute's applied research priorities. The workshop proceedings upon which this book is based marked the completion of this project. However, perhaps as an indication of the success of this collaboration, a second phase of the GOJ Special Project is now under way, concentrating on nitrogen dynamics of cropping systems incorporating the ICRISAT mandate legumes. It is our hope that the contents of this book will provide an up-to-date assessment of knowledge on the subject of phosphorus nutrition of legumes and point the way to promising areas for future research.

Special Note : Root Development of Pigeonpea and Chickpea and its Significance in Different Cropping Systems  pg 183

Publication Details

• Published: 1991
• Publisher: ICRISAT
• ISBN-10: 92-9066-200-X
• ISBN-13: 978-9290662006