ICPL 87 (Pragati)
A short-duration, determinate pigeonpea released as Pragati in 1986, valued for early harvest, wilt tolerance and suitability for multiple-harvest or double-cropping systems.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Arhar (Tur)
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Kharif
- Maturity period
- 110–130 days
- Seed rate
- About 20–25 kg/ha for extra-early/short-duration sole cropping in Maharashtra; lower rates are used when ICPL 87 is grown as an intercrop, depending on the cropping geometry
- Expected yield
- About 11–19 q/ha in reported Indian varietal comparisons; 1.14 t/ha was the weighted mean in five years of peninsular-zone trials
- Suitable soil
- Well-drained light to medium soils
- Release
- Released in India as Pragati in 1986 for the peninsular zone; developed by ICRISAT from ICPX 73052 (T21 × JA 277)
About this variety
ICPL 87, released in India as Pragati in 1986, was developed by ICRISAT through pedigree selection from the cross ICPX 73052 (T21 × JA 277). It is a short-statured, determinate pigeonpea with a semi-spreading habit and clustered pods near the top of the canopy. At ICRISAT Center it flowered in about 70–75 days and matured in roughly 110–130 days. In five years of All India Coordinated Pulses Improvement Project trials in peninsular India, it produced a weighted mean seed yield of 1.14 t/ha, about 10% higher than the UPAS 120 control. It is particularly notable for its short duration, Fusarium wilt tolerance, ability to recover after pod-borer damage and potential for ratoon or multiple harvests under favorable moisture conditions.
Key characteristics
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing timeWith the onset of the monsoon, generally June in its main peninsular growing belt; delayed sowing can reduce yield and multiple-harvest potential
- Seed rateAbout 20–25 kg/ha for extra-early/short-duration sole cropping in Maharashtra; lower rates are used when ICPL 87 is grown as an intercrop, depending on the cropping geometry
- SpacingAround 45 × 10 cm for extra-early sole-crop systems in Maharashtra; spacing should be adjusted for the local sole-crop or intercrop system
- Sowing methodLine sowing is preferred for uniform plant population and easier intercultural operations; its determinate, short-statured plant type also allows relatively close planting
- IrrigationPrimarily suited to rainy-season production. Under dry spells, provide supplemental irrigation when soil moisture becomes limiting, particularly around flowering and pod filling; avoid prolonged waterlogging.
- FertilizerNo reliable ICPL-87-specific fertilizer dose was identified from the primary variety documents. Follow the state-recommended pigeonpea nutrient package based on soil testing rather than treating a generic dose as variety-specific.
- HarvestingAbout 110–130 days to maturity under suitable conditions. Its short duration allows earlier harvest than medium- and long-duration pigeonpea and can help fit another crop into the system. Under favorable moisture conditions, ratoon or multiple harvests are possible.
Soil & climate
Soil
- Suitable soil
- Well-drained light to medium soils. ICPL 87 has been evaluated on Alfisol and Vertisol environments, but prolonged standing water should be avoided.
- Irrigation
- Good drainage is important. Short-duration pigeonpea can tolerate different soil environments, but prolonged waterlogging can restrict root function and crop performance.
Climate
- Climate
- Best suited to warm rainy-season environments where a short-duration pigeonpea can escape some late-season drought. Timely sowing is important because delayed sowing has been associated with reduced yield and lower multiple-harvest potential.
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
110–130 days
Expected yield
About 11–19 q/ha in reported Indian varietal comparisons; 1.14 t/ha was the weighted mean in five years of peninsular-zone trials
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
- Fusarium wilt — tolerant; this is one of the defining disease-related advantages of ICPL 87
- Sterility mosaic disease — do not describe ICPL 87 as resistant; the primary ICRISAT material specifically documents wilt tolerance rather than sterility-mosaic resistance
- Pod borer — not a resistant variety, but it has a notable ability to compensate and recover after insect damage, particularly through a second flush
Management notes
- Use clean, quality seed and follow the locally recommended seed-treatment package for pigeonpea before sowing.
- Monitor for pod borer and other insect pests during flowering and pod development; do not assume that wilt tolerance means broad pest resistance.
- Where wilt has historically been a problem, its wilt tolerance is an advantage, but crop rotation and field sanitation remain useful disease-management practices.
- Sow on time with the monsoon because delayed sowing can reduce yield and multiple-harvest potential.
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Short duration — about 110–130 days — allowing earlier harvest than longer-duration pigeonpea
- Determinate, short-statured plant type suitable for relatively high-density production
- Fusarium wilt tolerance, a major advantage in wilt-prone fields
- Performed about 10% above UPAS 120 in the weighted mean of five years of peninsular-zone trials
- Suitable for multiple-harvest systems and capable of ratoon production under favorable moisture conditions
- Historically adopted in Maharashtra and Karnataka and useful where short-duration pigeonpea fits the cropping calendar
Things to consider
- It is an old 1986 release; newer pigeonpea varieties may offer stronger disease packages or better adaptation for specific regions.
- Do not treat ICPL 87 as sterility-mosaic resistant — the primary ICRISAT description establishes Fusarium wilt tolerance, not sterility-mosaic resistance.
- Yield figures vary substantially by trial system. The safest general field framing is the reported 11–19 q/ha range rather than quoting high-density experimental or multiple-harvest yields as normal commercial yield.
- Its short duration is an advantage only where the local rainfall, soil moisture and cropping calendar support early pigeonpea; it is not automatically the best choice for every pigeonpea-growing region.
- The strongest documented adoption evidence is from peninsular India, particularly Maharashtra and Karnataka, rather than the whole Indian pigeonpea belt.
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Maharashtra
- Karnataka
- Gujarat
Frequently asked questions
What is ICPL 87 (Pragati)?
ICPL 87 is a short-duration, determinate pigeonpea variety developed by ICRISAT and released in India as Pragati in 1986. It is known for Fusarium wilt tolerance, early maturity and suitability for multiple-harvest systems.
How many days does ICPL 87 take to mature?
About 110–130 days under suitable conditions.
What is the yield of ICPL 87 pigeonpea?
Historical Indian variety comparisons report roughly 11–19 q/ha. In five years of peninsular-zone trials, ICRISAT recorded a weighted mean of 1.14 t/ha, about 10% above UPAS 120.
Is ICPL 87 resistant to wilt?
ICPL 87 is described by ICRISAT as tolerant to Fusarium wilt. It should not be described as resistant to every major pigeonpea disease.
Is ICPL 87 resistant to sterility mosaic disease?
Do not list it as sterility-mosaic resistant. The primary ICRISAT variety description establishes Fusarium wilt tolerance; it does not establish sterility-mosaic resistance for ICPL 87.
When should ICPL 87 be sown?
It is normally sown with the onset of the monsoon, generally in June in its main peninsular growing belt. Timely sowing is important because delayed sowing can reduce yield.
What is the seed rate of ICPL 87?
About 20–25 kg/ha for extra-early/short-duration sole cropping in Maharashtra. Intercropping uses a lower rate depending on the planting arrangement.
Which states are suitable for ICPL 87?
It has its strongest documented adaptation and adoption in peninsular India, particularly Maharashtra and Karnataka; historical sources also report its use in Gujarat.
Sourced from: ICRISAT — Pigeonpea Variety ICPL 87, Plant Material Description No. 42, ICRISAT — Pigeonpea Variety ICPL 87, Plant Material Description PDF, Crop Science — Registration of ICPL 87 Pigeonpea, NABARD — Seed-rate and spacing recommendations for pigeonpea in Maharashtra, ICRISAT Asia Region Annual Report — adoption and seed sales of ICPL 87 in Maharashtra, Current commercial listing — ICPL-87 pigeonpea seed. editorial policy.