BENGAL GRAM (CHICKPEA)

Gram commonly known as \\\'chick pea\\\' or Bengal gram is the most important pulse crop of India. It is used for human consumption as well as for feeding to animals. Fresh green leaves are used as vegetable while straw of chickpea is an excellent fodder for cattle. The grains are also used as vegetable. India, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Burma and Turkey are main gram growing countries. India ranks first in the world in respect of production and acreage followed by Pakistan. In India, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra and Punjab are major gram producing states.
In Himachal Pradesh, in 2002-2003 year Bengal gram farming is done in 0.5 thousand acres of land and gives an average yield of 3qtl/acre.
On basis of size, color and shape of seeds, gram is divided into two group 1) Desi or brown gram 2) Kabuli or white gram. Yield potential of kabuli is poor as compared to Desi gram.

It can be grown on wide variety of soils. Sandy loam to clay loam is considered to be most suitable soil for gram cultivation. Soil having water logging problems are not suitable for cultivation. Saline alkaline soils are not suitable. pH in the range of 5.5 to 7 is ideal for sowing.

Avoid sowing of same crop continuously in field. Follow proper crop rotation. Crop rotation with cereals will help in controlling soil borne disease. Common rotation are Kharif fallow-chick pea, Kharif fallow- gram + wheat/barley/raya, Chari-gram, bajra-gram, rice/maize-gram.

 

Himachal Chana-1: It is suitable for sowing in sub-mountainous and lower hilly areas of tropical mountainous areas. It is medium long and straight spreading variety. It has small leaves and pink color flowers. The seeds are small and flowers are off-white in color. The variety gets mature in 190-200 days and gives an average yield of 4-5qtl/acre.

Himachal Chana-2: It is a new variety and approved for growing in sub-mountainous and lower hilly areas of tropical mountainous areas. It has medium long plant (60-65cm in height); small leaves and flowers are pink in color. It has medium sized grains and is red-brown in color. The variety is resistant to wilting. It gives an average yield of 4-5qtl/acre.

HPG-17: The variety is suitable for growing in all regions. It has thick seeds (22gm/100 seeds weight). The variety is resistant to anthracnose and wilting. It is a medium spreading variety. It gives an average yield of 5-6qtl/acre.

Other state varieties:

RSG-44: Released in 1991 by RAU, Durgapur. Gives an average yield of 8-10qtl/acre. It takes 135-185 days to reach maturity. The variety is drought and frost resistance.

KPG-59: Released in 1992 by CASUAT. It is a late sown variety having bold seeds. Gives an average yield of 8qtl/acre. It takes 135-150 days to reach maturity. The variety is tolerant to root rot, wilt stunt and pod borer.

Pusa 372 (BG 372): Released by IARI in 1993. Gives an average yield of 5-6qtl/acre. It takes days 135-150 days to reach maturity. The variety is tolerant to blight, wilt and root rot. It has small seeds which are light brown in color.
 
Pusa 329: Released by IARI in 1993. Gives an average yield of 8-9qtl/acre. It takes days 145-155 days to reach maturity. It is moderately resistant to wilt and Botrytis grey mould.

Vardan (GNG-663):Released by RAU, Srinagar. Gives an average yield of 9-10qtl/acre. It takes 150-155 days to reach maturity. The variety is resistant to wilt.

GPF 2: Released by PAU in 1995. Gives an average yield of 8-9qtl/acre. It takes 152 days to reach maturity. The variety is resistant to wilt and tolerant to Ascochyta blight. They have yellowish brown color seeds.

Pusa-362: Released by IARI in 1995. Gives an average yield of 9-10qtl/acre. It takes 145-150 days to reach maturity. It has bold seeds and the variety is tolerant to wilt.

Alok (KGD 1168): Released by CSAUAT in 1996. Gives an average yield of 7-8qtl/acre. It takes 145-150 days to reach maturity. Resistant to wilt and root rot.

Samrat (GNG 469): Released by RAU, Srinagar in 1997. Gives an average yield of 7-8qtl/acre. It takes 145-150 days to reach maturity. Resistant to Ascochyta blight and tolerant to wilt and root rot. It is suitable to grow in rainfed and irrigated areas.

Karnal Chana-1: Suitable for North Rajasthan. Released by CSSRI, Karnal in 1997. Gives an average yield of 9-11qtl/acre. It takes 140-147 days to reach maturity. The variety is resistant to wilt.

DCP-92-3: Released by IIPR in 1997. Gives an average yield of 7-8qtl/acre. It takes 145-150 days to reach maturity. It has medium bold seeds which are yellowish brown in color. Suitable to grow in north Rajasthan where the land has high fertility and have excessive moisture.

Pusa Chamatkar (G 1053) Kabuli: Released by IARI in 1999. Gives an average yield of 7-8qtl/acre. It takes 140-150 days to reach maturity. The variety is resistant to wilt.

Asha (RSG 945): Released by ARS, Durgapura in 2005. Gives an average yield of 7qtl/acre. It takes 75-80 days to reach maturity. The variety is moderately resistant to dry root and wilt.

PGC-1 (Pratap Channa 1): Released by ARS, Banswara in 2005. Gives an average yield of 5-6qtl/acre. It takes 90-95 days to reach maturity. The variety is moderately resistant to wilt and pod borer.

Arpita (RSG-963): Released by RAU, Bikaner in 2005. Gives an average yield of 6qtl/acre. It takes 125-130 days to reach maturity. The variety is moderately resistant to dry root rot, wilt and B.G.M.

Aadhar (RSG-963): It is moderatly resistant to Wilt, dry root rot, B.G.M and Collar rot, pod borer, & Nematodes. Ready to harvest in 125-130 days. Gives average yield of 6qtl/acre.

Abha (RSG-973): Released by ARS, Durgapura in 2006. Gives an average yield of 6qtl/acre. It takes 120-125 days to reach maturity. The variety is moderately resistant to dry root rot and wilt.

Abha (RSG-807): Released by ARS, Durgapura in 2006. Gives an average yield of 7.5qtl/acre. It takes 120-125 days to reach maturity. The variety is moderately resistant to dry root rot.

Rajas: Released by MPKV IN 2007. Gives an average yield of 7.5qtl/acre. It takes 136 days to reach maturity. The variety is resistant to fusarium wilt.

GNG 421 (Gauri): Released by ARS, Sri GangaNagar in 2007. Gives an average yield of 7.5qtl/acre. It takes 127-160 days to reach maturity. The variety is resistant to dry root rot, stunt and wilt.

GNG 1488 (Sangam): Released by ARS, Sri Ganganagar in 2007. Gives an average yield of 7.5qtl/acre. It takes 99-157 days to reach maturity. The variety is resistant to dry root rot and stunt.

RSG 991 (Aparna): Released by ARS, Durgapur in 2007. Gives an average yield of 5-6qtl/acre. It takes 130-135 days to reach maturity. The variety is resistant to dry root rot, wilt and collar rot.

RSG 896 (Arpan): Released by ARS, Durgapur in 2007. Gives an average yield of 5-6qtl/acre. It takes 130-135 days to reach maturity. The variety is resistant to dry root rot, wilt and pod borer.

RSG 902 (Aruna): Released by ARS, Durgapur in 2007. Gives an average yield of 6-7qtl/acre. It takes 130-135 days to reach maturity. The variety is resistant to dry root rot, wilt and pod borer.

RSG 974 (Abhilasha): Released by ARS, Durgapur in 2010. It takes 130-135 days to reach maturity. The variety is resistant to dry root rot, B.G.M, wilt and sterility mosaic.

GNG 1958: Cultivated under irrigated areas also suitable for normal sown irrigated condition. It has brown seed color. Ready to harvest in 145 days. Gives average yield of 8-10 qtl/acre.

PBG 7: Recommended for cultivation in whole Punjab. This variety is moderately resistant to Ascochyta blight and resistant to wilt and dry root rot. Grain size is medium and gives average yield of 8qtl/acre. It gets mature in 159 days.

CSJ 515: Suitable under irrigated condition, seeds are small and are of brown color weight 17gm/100 seed. It is moderately resistant to dry root rot, and tolerant to Ascochyta blight. Gets mature in 135 days and gives average yield of 7qtl/acre.

BG 1053: It is a Kabuli variety. It is early in flowering and matures in 155 days. Seeds are creamy white and bold in size. Gives Average yield of 8qtl/acre. Suitable for cultivation for throughout state under irrigated condition.

L 550: Kabuli variety. Semi spreading and early flowering variety. Matures in 160 days. Seeds are of creamy white color. It gives average yield of 6qtl/acre.

L 551: It is kabuli variety. It is resistant to wilt disease. Ready to harvest in 135-140 days. It gives average yield of 6-8qtl/acre.

GNG 1969: Cultivated under irrigated areas also suitable for normal sown irrigated condition. It possess creamy beige seed colour. Ready to harvest in 146 days. Gives average yield of 9qtl/acre.

GLK 28127: Suitable for cultivation under irrigated areas, seeds are of large size with light yellow or creamy colour with irregular owl head. Ready to harvest in 149 days. Gives average yield of 8qtl/acre.

GPF2: The plants are tall with erect growth habit. It is highly resistive to Ascochyta blight and will complex. It gets matures in about 165 days. Gives average yield of 7.6 qtl/acre.

Aadhar (RSG-963): It is moderately resistant to wilt, dry root rot, B.G.M and collar rot, pod borer, & Nematodes. Ready to harvest in 125-130 days. Gives average yield of 6qtl/acre.

Anubhav (RSG 888): Suitable for cultivation in rainfed area. It is moderately resistant to wilt and root rot. Ready to harvest in 130-135days. Gives average yield of 9qtl/acre.

Pusa Chamatkar: Kabuli variety. It is tolerant to wilt. Ready to harvest in 140-150 days. It gives average yield of 7.5qtl/acre.

C 235: Ready to harvest in 145-150 days. It is tolerant to stem rot and blight disease. Grains are of medium and yellowish brown color. Gives average yield of 8.4-10qtl/acre.

G 24: Semi-spreading variety, suitable for rainfed conditions. Ready to harvest in 140-145 days. Gives average yield of 10-12qtl/acre.  

G 130: Medium duration variety. Gives average yield of 8-12qtl/acre.

Pant G 114: Ready to harvest in 150 days. It is resistant to blight. It gives average yield of 12-14qtl/acre.

C 104: Kabuli gram varieties, suitable for Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Gives average yield of 6-8qtl/acre.

Pusa 209: Ready to harvest in 140-165 days.Gives average yield of 10-12qtl/acre.

Very fine and compact seedbed is not good for chick pea, it required rough seed bed. If it is cultivated as mix crop the land should be plough to fine tilth. If chick pea crop is taken after a kharif fellow carry out one deep ploughing during the monsoon as it will help to conserved rain water. Before sowing plough the land only once. If soil appears to be deficient in moisture run a roller about a week before sowing.
 

Time of sowing
Mid-October is an optimum time for Bengal gram seed sowing. Sowing on right time is necessary as early sowing leads to excessive vegetative growth, also crop get affected due to wilt while late sowing, crop make poor vegetative growth and inadequate root development.

Spacing
For Himachal Chana-1 and Chana-2 varieties use row spacing of 30cm and for HPG-17 variety, use spacing of 50cm.

Sowing Depth
Use sowing depth of 5-6cm.

Method of sowing
In north India, it is sown by pora method, drilling machine etc.
 

Seed Rate:
For Himachal Chana-1 and Chana-2 varieties use seed rate 16-18kg/acre and for HPG-17 variety, use seed rate of 34kg/acre.

Seed Treatment:
Mix Trichoderma@2 kg/acre + decomposed cow dung@50 kg then cover it with jute bags for 24-72 hrs. Then spray this on moist soil before sowing to control soil borne disease. To prevent seeds from soil borne disease they should be treated with fungicide Carbendazim 12% + Mancozeb 63%WP(Saaf)@2 gm/kg of seed before sowing. In termite affected soil, treat seeds with Chlorpyrifos 20EC@10 ml/kg of seeds before sowing.
Inoculate seed with Mesorhizobium, it will increase productivity of gram and increased yield by 7%. For that first moisten seed with water then apply single packet of Meso-rhizobium on seeds. After inoculation dry seeds in shed.

Use any one fungicides from below:
 

To keep check on weeds, take first hand weeding or with wheel hoe 25-30days after sowing and second if needed after 60 days of sowing. Simultaneously for effective weed control, pre-emergence application of Pendimethalin @ 1 litre/150 litre water on third day after sowing for one acre land. It will help for controlling annual weeds. In case of less infestation, hand weeding or inter culture with the help of hoe is always better than herbicides because inter culture operations improve aeration in the soil.
 

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Use fertilizer dose of nitrogen@12.5kg/acre in the form of urea@27kg/acre or CAN@50kg/acre, phosphorus@25kg/acre in the form of SSP@156kg/acre and potash@12.5kg/acre in the form of MOP@20kg/acre. Add full dose of phosphorus and potash and half dose of nitrogen via pora method at the time of sowing. Rest of the nitrogen dose is added after 4-5 weeks of sowing.

Mainly Bengal gram farming is done in rainfed areas. If water is available then first irrigation is done after 40-45 days after sowing after flowering and next irrigation is given after pod development. If only single irrigation is available then do it after 60 days of sowing.

• Pest and their control:
  

Termite: It feeds on root or near root zone of crop. Affected plant show symptom of drying up. It can be easily uprooted. It can affect at seedling stage and also near maturity.

To protect seeds from termite, treat seeds with Chlorpyriphos 20EC@10ml/kg of seeds. If infestation occur in standing crop, drench with Imidacloprid@4ml/10litre of water or Chlorpyriphos@5ml/10Ltr of water.

Cut worm: Caterpillar remain hide in soil at depth of 2-4 inch. It cut at base of plant, branches or stem. Eggs are laid down in soil. Larva is dark brown with red head.

Adopt crop rotation. Use only well decomposed cow dung. At early stage pick caterpillar by hand and then destroyed them. Avoid plantation of Tomato. Okra near gram field. In low infestation spray Quinalphos 25EC@400 ml/200-240 liters water per acre. In case of severe infestation Spray with Profenophos 50EC@600 ml/acre in 200-240 liters of water.

Gram pod borer: This is the most serious pest of chickpea and causes damage up to 75% reduction in yield. It feed on leaves causes skeletonization of leaves also feeds on flower and green pods. On pods they make circular holes and feed on grains.

Install Pheromone traps for Helicoverpa armigera@5/acre. In case of low infestation, hand picked grown up larvae. At early stage use HNPV or Neem extract@50 gm/litre of water. Use of chemicals are necessary after ETL level. (ETL: 2 early instar larvae/plant or  5-8 eggs/plant).
Spray Deltamethrin 1%+Triazophos35%@25 ml/10 litre water when crop is at 50% flowering stage. Spray Emamectin Benzoate 5%G@3 gm/10 litre of water 15 days after first spray of Deltamethrin+Triazophos.
In case of severe infestation spray Emamectin Benzoate 5%SG@7-8 gm/15 litre or 20%WG Flubendiamide@8 gm/15 litre water.

 

• Disease and their control:
  

Blight: Dark brown spot with dot like bodies developed on stem, branches, leaflet and pods. In case of excessive rain whole plant get severely affected with blight.

For cultivation use resistant varieties. Before sowing carryout seed treatment with fungicide. On incidence of disease spray with Indofil M-45 or Captan @360 gm/100 ltr of water per acre. If necessary repeat the spray at interval of 15 days.

Gray Mold: Small water soaked spots are observed on leaflets. Spots on infected leaves become dark brown. In severe infestation, brown necrotic spots appear on twigs, petioles, leaves and flowers of the plant on attaining full vegetative growth. The affected stem finally breaks and the plant dies.

Before sowing carry out seed treatment. If infestation is observed, spray crop with Carbendazim@2 gm/ltr of water.

Rust: This disease is more severe in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Small, round to oval, light or dark brown pustules are formed on the under surface of the leaves. In later stage, pustules get black and affected leaves get defoliate.

Use rust resistant varieties for cultivation. If symptoms are observed spray the crop with Mancozeb 75WP@2 gm/ltr of water. with interval of 10 days take two more sprays.

 

Wilt: This disease causes considerable loss in yield. In can affect at the seedling stage as well as in an advanced stage of plant growth. Intially affected plant show dropping of patioles and gives dull green color. Afterwards all leaves turn yellow and become straw colored.

Grow resistant varieties. In primary stage of wilt, to control mix 1 kg of Trichoderma in 200 kg well decomposed cow dung and keep it for 3 days, then apply it in wilt affected area. If wilt is observed in fields, spray 300 ml Propiconazol with 200 litre of water per acre.

When plant gets dry and leaves turn reddish brown and start shedding, plant is ready to harvest. Cut the plant with sickle. Sundry the harvested crop for five to six days. After proper drying, carry out threshing by beating the plants with sticks or by trampling under the feet of bullocks.

Grains of harvested crop must be well dried before storage. And take care to avoid the pulse beetle infestation in storage.