Black gram is also known as Urad in Hindi and Mash in Urdu and Punjabi. It is one of the most important pulse crops of India. It is rich source of protein and phosphoric acid. It is used as daal and it is important ingredient of breakfast. In India, major black gram areas are Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

Saline - alkaline soil, also waterlogged soils are not suitable for black gram cultivation. For good growth, it required stiff loamy or heavy soils with good water retentive capacity.

Him mash-1 (U.P.U-0031): It is suitable for sowing in sub-mountainous and low mountainous tropical areas. It has brown to black color grains which gives more yield. The variety gets ready in 74-76 days. The variety is resistant to yellow mosaic, leaf curl, anthracnose and powdery mildew and is moderately tolerant to cercospora spot. It gives an average yield of 5-6qtl/acre.

U.G.-218: It is an early maturing variety which gets ready in 81 days. It is suitable for sowing in sub-mountainous and low mountainous tropical areas. Sowing of this variety is done in first fortnight of March. The plant attains the height of 30-40cm. The variety gives an average yield of 5qtl/acre.

Pant U-19: The variety gets ready in 85 days. The variety is resistant to yellow mosaic but is moderately resistant to leaf diseases. It gives an average yield of 3-4qtl/acre.

P.D.U-1: It is medium long, long legumes and thick seeds variety. It is suitable for sowing in Kullu hills. It gives an average yield of 4-5qtl/acre.

T-9: It is straight and dwarf variety which has deep green color leaves and yellow color flowers. It has medium long height, which is green at first and becomes black at maturity. It has thick size seeds which contains 23% protein content. The variety gets ready in 95-100 days and it gives an average yield of 3-4qtl/acre.

Palampur-93: The variety is resistant to Cercospora leaf spot and powdery mildew. It is suitable for Kullu and Kangra regions. It is a medium height plant. The variety gets ready in 85-90 days. It has big grains, deep black in color and hard in nature. The seeds contain 26.2% protein content.

Other state varieties:

TPU-4: Suitable for cultivation in Central part of Rajasthan. Released by BARC/MAU in 1992. The plant is erect, medium tall height and bold seeds which are dull black in color. It gives an average yield of 3qtl/acre. The variety gets mature in 75 days.

WBU-108: Released by BCKV in 1996. It is a kharif season crop. It gives an average yield of 5qtl/acre. The variety gets mature in 85 days. The variety is resistant to YMV (Yellow Mosaic Virus).

Barkha (RBU 38): Released by RAU, Bansawara in 1999. It has bold seeds and the variety is resistant to Cercospora leaf spot. It gives an average yield of 5qtl/acre. The variety gets mature in 75 days.

IPU 94-1: Released by IIPR in 1999. The variety is resistant to YMV and it is a kharif season crop. It gives an average yield of 4.5-5qtl/acre. The variety gets mature in 85 days.

Shekhar 2 (KU 300): Released by CSAUAT in 2001. It gives an average yield of 4.5-5 qtl/acre. The variety gets mature in 70 days.

Pant Urd 31: It is a short duration variety which is released in 2008. It gives an average yield of 6qtl/acre. The variety gets mature in 75-80 days.

Pant Urd 40: It is a short duration variety which is released in 2008. It gives an average yield of 5-6qtl/acre. The variety gets mature in 70-75 days.

Vishwas (NUL-7): Released in 2012. It gives an average yield of 4qtl/acre. The variety gets mature in 69-73 days.

AL-15: It is a short duration variety, matures in 135days. Pods are borne in clusters. It gives average yield of 5.5qtl/acre.

AL 201: It is early maturity variety. It matures in about 140 days. Main stem is stronger than side branches. Each pod contains 3-5 yellowish brown and medium size seeds. It gives average yield of 6.2qtl/acre.

PAU 881: It is early maturing variety. It matures in 132 days. Plants are 2m tall. Each pod contains about 3-5 yellow brown and medium size seeds. It gives average yield of 5.6qtl/acre.

UPAS-120: It is extra early maturing (120-125 days) variety. These are medium tall and semi spreading varieties. Seeds are small and light brown color. The average yield is 6-7 quintals per hectare. It is susceptible to sterility mosaic disease.

ICPL 151 (Jagriti): Ready to harvest in 120-130 days. It gives average yield of 4 to 5qtl/acre.

PusaAgeti: Dwarf bold seeded variety, ready to harvest in 150 to 160 days. It gives average yield of 5qtl/acre.

Pusa 84: Medium tall, semi spreading variety, ready to harvest in 140 to 150days. 

IPA 203 and IPH 09-5 (Hybrid)

To bring soil to fine tilth, do 2-3 ploughings before sowing. Keep in mind that when the last land preparations are done, the ground should be flat and well leveled and drainage is good.

Time of sowing
This crop is sown at the starting of the monsoon in the month of end-June to first week of July.

Spacing
For kharif season, use row to row spacing of 30cm and plant to plant spacing of 10cm and for Rabi season, use row to row spacing of 22.5cm and plant to plant spacing of 7cm.

Sowing Depth
Sow seeds at depth of 4-6cm.

Method of sowing
For sowing use Kera or Pora method or sow seeds by seed drill.

Seed Rate
Use 7-7.5kg/acre of seed rate. If mixed cropping is done then do not use more than 4kg/acre of seed rate.

Seed Treatment
Before sowing treat seeds with Captan or Thiram or Mancozeb or Carbendazim@2.5gm per kg of seeds. After then dry them in shades. After chemical treatment treat seed with Rhizobium@2gm/kg of seeds.

Use any one fungicide from below:

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Add fertilizer dose of Nitrogen @8kg/acre in the form of Urea@19kg/acre, Phosphorus@17kg/acre in the form of SSP@105kg/acre and potash @8kg/acre in the form of MOP@14kg/acre at the time of land preparation.

Black gram is grown as a kharif crop. If needed provide irrigation depending upon the climatic conditions.

To keep field weed free, one or two hoeing are required. Take first hoeing one month after sowing. To control weed chemically, after sowing, within two days, take spray of Pendimethalin@1Ltr/acre in 100-200Ltrs of water.

• Diseases and their control

Yellow mosaic virus: It is spread due to white fly. Irregular yellow, green patches are observed on leaves. Pods not developed on infected plants.

Grow yellow mosaic virus resistant varieties. For white fly control, take spray of Thiamethoxam@40gm, Triazophos@ 600ml/acre. If necessary take second spray 10days after first spray.

Cercospora leaf spot: As a preventive measure, do seed treatment with Captan and Thiram. Use cercospora leaf spot resistant variety. If infestation is observed take spray of Zineb 75WP@400gm/acre. Take two to three sprays at interval of 10days.

• Pest and their control:

Sucking pest (Jassid, aphid, white fly): If infestation is observed, take spray of Malathion@375ml or Dimethoate@250ml or Oxydemeton Methyl@250ml/acre.
 
For white fly control, take spray of Thiamethoxam@40gm Triazophos@600ml/acre. If necessary take second spray 10days after first spray.

Tobacco caterpillar: If infestation is observed, take spray of Acephate 57SP@800gm/acre or Chlorpyriphos 20EC@ 1.5Ltr/acre. If necessary take second spray 10days after first spray.
 
Hairy Caterpillar: To control hairy caterpillar pick caterpillar manually and destroyed by crushing or putting in kerosene water when infestation is low. In case of high infestation, take spray of Quinalphos@500ml or Dichlorvos@200ml/acre.

Pod Borer: Serious pest cause heavy loss in yield. If infestation is observed, take spray of Indoxacarb 14.5SC@200ml or Acephate 75SP@800gm or Spinosad 45SC@60ml/acre. Repeat spray after two weeks.

Mite: If infestation is observed take spray of Dimethoate 30EC@150ml/acre.

Blister beetle: They cause damage at flowering stage. They feed on flowers, buds thus prevent grain formation.
 
If infestation is observed, take spray of Indoxacarb 14.5SC@200ml or Acephate 75SC@800gm/acre. Carry out spraying in evening hours and if necessary take second spray 10days after first spray.

Best time for harvesting of black gram is when leaves are shed and pods become greyish black. Cut crop with sickle and then spread harvested crop on floor to dry. Then threshing is done and seeds are separated from pods.