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better understanding of the root microbiome will enable the development of strategies for manipulating the root microbiome to increase the yield and productivity of pigeon pea and related crops. Preliminary results indicated that the composition of pigeon pea root microbiome varied from soil to soil.
Environmental perspectives and socioeconomic implications: The demand for pulses such as pigeon pea is rapidly increasing to meet the minimum requirements of an increasing world population. The former president of India Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had rightly pointed out that ‘the future food demand cannot be met merely from incremental gains through conventional plant breeding. A quantum change in yield improvement is
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needed’. Replacing chemical fertilizers with beneficial microorganisms that thrive in the crop’s root system provides an eco-friendly solution to boost pigeon pea production. It will not only pave the way for organic farming on a larger scale while reducing input cost for farmers but also reduce pollution of water bodies and aquifers through chemical leaching, thus improving the overall human and environmental health. Harnessing the fundamental understanding of the biological nitrogen fixation for potential agricultural benefit will, therefore, strengthen the economy of our farmers, allow them to feed the ever- growing human population and provide a better tomorrow for our future generations.