Arhar (Tur / Kandi)KharifMedium-duration pigeonpea varietyUpdated 27 October 2026

ICPL 87119 (Asha)

A medium-duration Asha variety from ICRISAT, valued for combined Fusarium wilt and sterility mosaic resistance; widely grown in central and south India.

SeasonKharif

Maturity periodAbout 160–200 days

Expected yield18–25 q/ha, depending on zone and management

Suitable soilWell-drained medium to deep soils; avoid prolonged waterlogging

Quick facts

Crop: Arhar (Tur / Kandi)
Type: Medium-duration pigeonpea variety
Season: Kharif
Maturity period: About 160–200 days
Seed rate: About 8–10 kg/ha for sole cropping; lower rates are used in suitable intercropping systems depending on the crop combination and planting geometry
Expected yield: 18–25 q/ha, depending on zone and management
Suitable soil: Well-drained medium to deep soils; avoid prolonged waterlogging
Disease resistance: Resistant to Fusarium wilt and sterility mosaic disease
Release: Released in 1993 for the Central and Southern Zones · Bred by ICRISAT

Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.

About this variety

ICPL 87119, popularly known as Asha, was bred by ICRISAT and released in India in 1993 for the Central and Southern Zones. It was developed from a cross involving C11 and a breeding line and became an important pigeonpea variety because it combined resistance to Fusarium wilt and sterility mosaic disease in a medium-duration, indeterminate plant type. ICRISAT trial results reported yields of about 1.51 t/ha in the Central Zone and 1.54 t/ha in the Southern Zone. The variety has continued to be used in Indian production and breeding programmes and remains listed by the Maharashtra State Seeds Corporation.

Should you pick this variety?

Pick ICPL 87119 (Asha) if you want one variety that handles both of arhar's big diseases and still yields well. It resists Fusarium wilt and sterility mosaic and gives 18–25 q/ha, and it is recommended across eight states from Madhya Pradesh to Tamil Nadu, so seed and local advice are easy to find. The price is time: 160–200 days, and in some conditions it runs to the far end of that. For the same twin protection in Marathwada with a slightly tighter season, BSMR 736 is the local choice at 180–185 days. For an early harvest take ICPL 87 at 110–130 days and give up the sterility-mosaic protection.

Sowing & cultivation

Sowing timeGenerally sown with the onset of the monsoon, commonly June to July in Kharif pigeonpea areas; exact sowing date should follow local rainfall and regional recommendations
Seed rateAbout 8–10 kg/ha for sole cropping; lower rates are used in suitable intercropping systems depending on the crop combination and planting geometry
SpacingSpacing varies with production system; around 90–120 cm between rows with about 20–30 cm between plants is used in many medium- to long-duration systems
Sowing methodLine sowing or dibbling is preferred so that the relatively long-duration, branching plants have adequate space; it can also be used in suitable intercropping systems
IrrigationPrimarily grown as a rainfed Kharif crop. Where irrigation is available, provide water according to rainfall, soil moisture and crop stage rather than following a fixed variety-specific schedule.
FertilizerUse the locally recommended pigeonpea nutrient package; avoid treating a general fertilizer recommendation as a variety-specific requirement. Rhizobium/appropriate biofertilizer inoculation can be used where recommended locally.
HarvestingUsually matures in roughly 160–200 days depending on zone, sowing date and growing conditions. Harvest when most pods have matured and turned brown, then dry the harvested plants properly before threshing.

Full Arhar (Tur / Kandi) growing guideSowing time, nutrients, irrigation, pests, costs and prices for Arhar (Tur / Kandi) as a whole crop. This is the advice that holds for every variety.

Soil & climate

Soil

Suitable soil: Performs in medium to deep, well-drained soils. Good drainage is important because prolonged waterlogging can restrict root development.
Irrigation: Avoid prolonged standing water, particularly during early crop establishment and periods of heavy rainfall.

Climate

Climate: A Kharif, medium-duration pigeonpea adapted to central and southern Indian production zones. Its maturity can vary considerably with sowing date, temperature, rainfall and local environment.

Pest & disease considerations

Major diseases

Fusarium wilt — resistant; this resistance is one of the defining strengths of Asha.
Sterility mosaic disease — resistant under the disease-screening conditions reported for the variety and a major reason for its importance in pigeonpea production and breeding.
Resistance does not eliminate all crop-protection risks; monitor the crop for other diseases and insect pests according to local conditions.

Management notes

Use healthy, quality seed from a reliable source and follow local seed-treatment recommendations before sowing.
Maintain good field drainage and avoid prolonged waterlogging during heavy monsoon periods.
Monitor the crop for pod borer, pod fly and other locally important pigeonpea pests even though Asha has important disease resistance.
Where the crop is grown in an area with a history of sterility mosaic or Fusarium wilt, its resistance can be an important varietal advantage, but field monitoring should still continue.

Advantages & considerations

Why farmers may choose it

Combines resistance to Fusarium wilt and sterility mosaic disease, two major diseases of pigeonpea.
A well-established ICRISAT variety with long-term cultivation and research experience in India.
Adapted to Central and Southern Zone pigeonpea production and still listed by Maharashtra State Seeds Corporation.
Bold, dark-brown seed and an indeterminate, branching plant type are characteristic features reported for the variety.

Things to consider

This is a medium- to long-duration pigeonpea variety; maturity can extend toward 180–200 days under some conditions, so it is not suitable where an early harvest is essential.
Yield varies substantially by environment and management. Historical Central and Southern Zone trials reported about 1.51–1.54 t/ha, while current state seed listings quote higher potential ranges.
Its strongest varietal advantage is disease resistance, not necessarily the shortest duration or highest yield available from newer pigeonpea varieties.
Choose the variety according to the current recommendation for the local district, especially where newer wilt- and sterility-mosaic-resistant varieties are available.

Suitable regions

States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.

Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra
Gujarat
Karnataka
Andhra Pradesh
Telangana
Odisha
Tamil Nadu

One variety, eight states: what changes as you move south

Asha is recommended from Madhya Pradesh down to Tamil Nadu, and the 160–200 day range given above is the price of that spread. The same seed behaves differently in a central-zone June sowing and in a cooler or southern field sown late — the crop takes longer, and the difference can be more than a month. Nothing is wrong with the variety when that happens; the duration figure is a range for a reason.

Plan on the long end. Work out your rabi sowing date first, count back 200 days, and see whether your monsoon sowing can start by then. If it cannot, Asha is not the problem — the rotation is, and a shorter variety such as ICPL 87 fits better. Where arhar holds the field for the whole season, the long duration is an advantage: more time means more pods, which is where the 18–25 q/ha comes from. Keep the drainage right through the heavy monsoon weeks and the disease resistance does the rest.

Can you keep your own planting material?

This is an open-pollinated variety, so seed from a healthy crop of your own can be sown again. Keep seed only from disease-free plants, dry it properly, store it cool and dry, and bring in fresh certified seed every three to four years so the variety does not drift.

How it compares with other varieties

Every Arhar (Tur / Kandi) variety with a page on this site, side by side. The row for this page is highlighted.

Variety	Best for	Maturity	Yield	States
BSMR 736	Fields where wilt and sterility mosaic both strike	About 180–185 days	About 12–18 q/ha average yield under suitable production conditions	Maharashtra
ICPL 87 (Pragati)	An early pigeonpea for double cropping in the peninsula	110–130 days	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	Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat
ICPL 87119 (Asha)this page	Both big diseases covered, with a full-season yield	About 160–200 days	18–25 q/ha, depending on zone and management	Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Tamil Nadu
Maruti (ICP 8863)	Heavy wilt pressure on black soil	150–180 days; commercial listings commonly state about 150–160 days	About 15–16 q/ha yield potential under suitable management; older official variety tables report about 10–12 q/ha average yield, while ICRISAT/ICAR material reports roughly 1.5–1.6 t/ha potential	Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana
Pusa Arhar 16	Machine harvesting, and the field free in about 120 days	~120 days	18–20 q/ha	Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh
UPAS 120	Clearing the field in time for timely wheat	125–150 days	About 11–15 q/ha average; 1.38–1.8 t/ha has also been reported under suitable conditions	Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand

Tools for this crop

The numbers you need next: how much seed to buy, whether the lot germinates, what the fertilizer bill looks like and what Arhar (Tur / Kandi) is selling for.

Subsidy and government support

Schemes that help with the cost of Arhar (Tur / Kandi) seed or planting material. Rules and the application route are on each scheme page.

Frequently asked questions

What is ICPL 87119 (Asha)?

ICPL 87119, commonly called Asha, is a medium-duration pigeonpea variety developed by ICRISAT and released in India in 1993 for the Central and Southern Zones.

How many days does Asha pigeonpea take to mature?

Roughly 160–200 days, depending on sowing date, location and growing conditions.

What is the yield potential of ICPL 87119?

Current state seed listings report about 18–25 q/ha, while historical ICRISAT trials reported around 1.51–1.54 t/ha in the Central and Southern Zones.

Is Asha resistant to Fusarium wilt?

Yes. ICPL 87119 was developed with resistance to Fusarium wilt, one of its main strengths.

Is Asha resistant to sterility mosaic disease?

Yes. Resistance to sterility mosaic disease is another defining characteristic of ICPL 87119.

Where is ICPL 87119 suitable?

It was released for the Central and Southern Zones and has been used across states including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and Tamil Nadu, subject to local recommendations.

Why does Asha take anywhere from 160 to 200 days?

Because it is grown from Madhya Pradesh to Tamil Nadu, and zone, sowing date and the season all move the harvest. Sown with the June–July monsoon in its central-zone belt, expect the shorter end; late sowing and cooler or southern locations push it out towards 200 days. Plan the following crop on the long figure, not the short one, or you will be waiting on the arhar when the rabi sowing is due.

Asha or BSMR 736 — both resist the same two diseases, so what decides?

Yield and place. Asha gives 18–25 q/ha against 12–18 q/ha for BSMR 736, and is recommended for eight states. BSMR 736 was released for Maharashtra in 1996 and is the better-known variety on Marathwada black soil, with a slightly shorter 180–185 day season. In Maharashtra either works; outside it, Asha is the one with the wider recommendation.

Does Asha need irrigation?

In most of its belt it is a kharif crop grown on the monsoon. Drainage matters more than irrigation: the variety wants well-drained medium to deep soil, and a long waterlogged spell during heavy monsoon rain hurts it. Open a drain before the monsoon rather than planning on extra water.

What seed rate and spacing should I use for ICPL 87119 (Asha)?

For sole cropping, about 8–10 kg/ha of seed, with rows 90–120 cm apart and plants 20–30 cm apart in many medium- to long-duration systems. Intercropping uses a lower seed rate, depending on the crop combination. Sow with the onset of the monsoon, commonly June to July. Your district's recommendation comes first.

How do I recognise ICPL 87119 seed and plants?

The seed is bold and dark brown, and the plant is indeterminate and branching, so it keeps growing and flowering through the season. That is different from the short, determinate types such as ICPL 87. Ask the seller for the variety name and the lot label; seed colour alone cannot prove the variety.

Sourced from: ICRISAT — Pigeonpea Variety ICPL 87119, Plant Material Description No. 43 (1993), ICRISAT — ICPL 87119 on farmers fields in Medak district, Andhra Pradesh (1995). editorial policy.