ABSTRACT

Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) is an important staple in Africa. It thrives well in wide range of climatic conditions, hence been mostly used in soil enrichment before the planting of other food crops in same farmland. However, the appropriate period of the year for planting pigeon pea has not been standardized for the sub-Saharan agro-ecological zone of Nigeria where Ogbagu Ogume community belongs. In 2019 and 2020 planting seasons, field planting of Cajanus cajan were carried out at Ogbagu Ogume community located in Southern Guinea Savana agro-ecological zone (5.7652^oN, 6.3341^oE). Two varieties of Cajanus cajan were sourced from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, Ibadan. The seeds were sown at three planting dates (February 25^th, June 25^th and September 25^th). The experiment was a 2 (genotypes) by 3 (planting dates) factorial in a completely randomized design with 3 replicates. Data were collected on the growth and yield parameters, and analyzed using ANOVA, while differences in treatment and genotypic means were separated using LSD at P≤0.05. Result obtained showed that in 2019, the tallest plant was recorded in the February planting (11.17±0.50cm) while in 2020, the tallest plants were observed in the September planting (10.67±1.28cm). The February planting produced the highest number of leaves (10.83±0.14) in 2019. Also the ICP7338 produced significantly higher number of leaves (10.33±0.11) to the ICP7400. The June planting had the highest dry pod weight in 2019 (4.28±0.35g) and 2020 (3.90±0.22g), and the highest dry grain yield in 2019 (2.00±0.14g) and 2020 (1.87±0.12g). In conclusion, it is advisable to establish pigeon pea early in the farm when in need of the vegetative parts for animal consumptions, but in the middle and late planting season when the rains are fully established for best grain yield.