Arhar (Tur)KharifOpen-pollinatedUpdated 15 August 2026

UPAS 120

An early pigeonpea variety developed at Pantnagar from a spontaneous mutant in germplasm line P-4758. Its main advantage is early maturity, making it useful where pigeonpea must fit into a wheat-based rotation. It is still listed in institutional seed offerings, although live local stock should be confirmed before purchase.

SeasonKharif

Maturity period125–150 days

Expected yieldAbout 11–15 q/ha average; 1.38–1.8 t/ha has also been reported under suitable conditions

Suitable soilWell-drained soils; avoid prolonged waterlogging

Quick facts

Crop: Arhar (Tur)
Type: Open-pollinated
Season: Kharif
Maturity period: 125–150 days
Seed rate: Use the locally recommended seed rate for short-duration pigeonpea; exact variety-specific seed-rate figures were not consistently established across the primary sources reviewed
Expected yield: About 11–15 q/ha average; 1.38–1.8 t/ha has also been reported under suitable conditions
Suitable soil: Well-drained soils; avoid prolonged waterlogging
Release: Developed at Pantnagar in 1974; officially released/notified in 1976. Selected from a spontaneous mutant in germplasm line P-4758

About this variety

UPAS 120 is an early-maturing pigeonpea variety developed at Pantnagar from a spontaneous mutant found in the germplasm line P-4758. Breeding literature identifies 1974 as the year of its development, while government variety records give 1976 as the release/notification year. Its early maturity was important for fitting pigeonpea into wheat-based rotations in the North-Western Plains. Government and agricultural sources report approximately 125–150 days to maturity, with GBPUAT describing about 125–130 days under its recommended conditions. UPAS 120 is indeterminate and semi-spreading, with brown seeds. Its main agronomic advantage is earliness rather than genetic resistance to Fusarium wilt. It is also documented as tolerant to pod borer. The variety has remained relevant in parts of the north-western pigeonpea belt, and current institutional seed listings show that it has not simply disappeared from cultivation.

Key characteristics

Plant typeOpen-pollinated

Maturity125–150 days

Yield potentialAbout 11–15 q/ha average; 1.38–1.8 t/ha has also been reported under suitable conditions

Disease resistanceNot wilt-resistant; early maturity helps escape some late-season wilt pressure. Tolerant to pod borer

SoilWell-drained soils; avoid prolonged waterlogging

SeasonKharif

Sowing & cultivation

Sowing timeJune–July with the onset of the kharif monsoon; early sowing is important where the crop must fit into a timely wheat rotation
Seed rateUse the locally recommended seed rate for short-duration pigeonpea; exact variety-specific seed-rate figures were not consistently established across the primary sources reviewed
SpacingUse locally recommended short-duration pigeonpea spacing; around 60 cm between rows and 15–20 cm between plants is commonly recommended for early varieties, subject to local conditions
Sowing methodLine sowing is preferred for uniform establishment and easier intercultural operations. The variety is particularly suited to systems where early harvest is required before the succeeding crop.
IrrigationPrimarily grown as a kharif crop. Avoid prolonged waterlogging and provide supplemental irrigation during prolonged dry periods where irrigation is available, especially around flowering and pod filling.
FertilizerFollow the current soil-test-based and locally recommended nutrient package for pigeonpea rather than using a variety-specific fertilizer dose.
HarvestingUsually matures in about 125–150 days, with shorter durations reported under favourable recommended conditions. Harvest when most pods are mature and brown and the seeds have reached full development.

Soil & climate

Soil

Suitable soil: Well-drained soils are preferred. Pigeonpea generally performs well in well-drained black and other suitable soils, but prolonged standing water should be avoided.
Irrigation: Good drainage is important. Avoid fields with prolonged standing water because excess moisture can create serious production problems.

Climate

Climate: Best suited to kharif production in the north-western and northern pigeonpea belt where early maturity is valuable for fitting the crop into wheat-based rotations. Its early maturity is its primary adaptation advantage.

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

125–150 days

Expected yield

About 11–15 q/ha average; 1.38–1.8 t/ha has also been reported under suitable conditions

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

Pest & disease considerations

Major diseases

Fusarium wilt — UPAS 120 should not be described as genetically wilt-resistant. Its early maturity can provide disease escape where wilt pressure develops later in the season.
Sterility mosaic disease — no strong primary-source evidence reviewed here supports presenting UPAS 120 as resistant; it should not be marketed as an SMD-resistant variety.
Pod borer — documented as tolerant in agricultural recommendations, although regular pest monitoring is still required.

Management notes

Choose UPAS 120 primarily where early maturity is the main requirement, especially when pigeonpea must be followed by a timely wheat crop.
Do not rely on UPAS 120 as a wilt-resistant variety. Its advantage against some wilt situations is disease escape through early maturity.
Monitor the crop for pod borer and other insect pests even though UPAS 120 has been described as pod-borer tolerant.
Use locally recommended nutrient, irrigation and plant-protection practices rather than treating the old variety description as a complete modern production package.

Advantages & considerations

Why farmers may choose it

Early maturity helps fit pigeonpea into wheat-based cropping systems and permits earlier field clearance.
Official sources document adoption/recommendation across important parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.
Pod-borer tolerance is an additional documented advantage.
The variety remains present in institutional seed listings, so it should not be treated as an obsolete variety solely because of its age.

Things to consider

Do not describe UPAS 120 as a Fusarium-wilt-resistant variety. Its early maturity provides escape from some late-season wilt pressure rather than strong genetic resistance.
Published maturity varies substantially by environment and production system: approximately 125–150 days is better supported than the narrower 135–140-day figure in the original record.
Yield figures also vary by source and trial context. Government records report about 11–15 q/ha average yield, while research sources report higher yield potential under suitable conditions; actual farm yield will depend on environment and management.
It is an old variety, so farmers should compare it with newer locally recommended early pigeonpea varieties before choosing it solely on historical reputation.
Current institutional seed listings establish that the variety is still offered, but they do not guarantee that certified seed is continuously stocked by every dealer or in every state.

Suitable regions

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

Uttar Pradesh
Haryana
Punjab
Rajasthan
Uttarakhand

Frequently asked questions

What is UPAS 120 pigeonpea?

UPAS 120 is an early-maturing pigeonpea variety developed at Pantnagar from a spontaneous mutant in germplasm line P-4758. It was developed in 1974 and officially released/notified in 1976.

How many days does UPAS 120 take to mature?

About 125–150 days depending on environment and production conditions. GBPUAT describes about 125–130 days under its recommended conditions.

Is UPAS 120 resistant to Fusarium wilt?

No. It should not be described as a genetically wilt-resistant variety. Its early maturity can help the crop escape some later-season wilt pressure.

Is UPAS 120 tolerant to pod borer?

Yes. Agricultural recommendations identify UPAS 120 as pod-borer tolerant, although field monitoring is still necessary.

What is the yield of UPAS 120 pigeonpea?

Government records report about 11–15 q/ha average yield. Other research sources report about 1.38–1.8 t/ha under suitable conditions, showing that yield depends strongly on environment and management.

Where is UPAS 120 suitable?

It has documented recommendation or adoption in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, particularly where early pigeonpea fits well into the local cropping system.

Can UPAS 120 fit into a wheat-based cropping system?

Yes. Early maturity is one of its main historical advantages because it allows the field to be cleared earlier for the succeeding wheat crop.

Is UPAS 120 still available as seed?

There is current institutional evidence of availability: Uttarakhand Seeds & Tarai Development Corporation currently lists UPAS-120 among its pigeonpea seed offerings. This does not guarantee live stock at every local dealer.

Sourced from: ICAR Directorate of Pulses Development — Pulses in India / recommended pigeonpea varieties, GB Pant University AICRP Pigeonpea — variety development and recommendation information, Saxena et al. — Origin of early maturing pigeonpea germplasm and its impact on adaptation and cropping systems, Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding — Genetic relatedness of pigeonpea varieties released over 58 years, ICAR-IIPR — Pigeonpea nutritional/genotype information including UPAS 120, Kerala Agricultural University — Red gram variety recommendations, ICAR-NCIPM — Pests of Pigeonpea, Uttarakhand Seeds & Tarai Development Corporation — Pulses Seeds, ICAR-IIPR — UPAS 120 used as seed in recent research. editorial policy.