USO DA CULTURA DO FEIJÃO GUANDU NA PRODUÇÃO ANIMAL: UMA REVISÃO DA LITERATURA

Abstract

Pigeonpea stands out for its remarkable versatility both in animal feed and in agricultural practices. This crop belongs to the Fabaceae family, subfamily Faboideae, and is popularly known in the Brazilian Northeast as pigeonpea, guandú or simply andu. Its easy adaptation has made it one of the main legumes cultivated in the tropics and subtropics for food purposes for humans, through grains, and for animals, through the production of forage. Thanks to its physiology, it is capable of fixing nitrogen in symbiosis with rhizobia, which not only enriches the soil with nutrients, but also promotes the healthy development of intercropped crops. In addition to being a nutritional source for animals, pigeon peas are used as green manure, cover crops and soil looseners, improving their physical structure and increasing soil organic matter. Its ability to be intercropped with other agricultural species further expands its application possibilities, making it a versatile and highly beneficial choice for sustainable agricultural systems. This study proposes to carry out a literature review based on existing bibliographic sources, with the purpose of investigating the versatility of application of the cultivar Cajanus cajan, better known as pigeon pea. This study proposes to carry out a literature review based on existing bibliographic sources, with the purpose of investigating the versatility of application of the Cajanus cajan cultivar, better known as pigeon pea.