HORSE GRAM

It is a pulse crop which is suitable to be grown in rainfed and less fertile areas. The botanical name of horse gram is Macrotyloma uniflorum which is also known as “Kulthi” in hindi. It is also used for cooking purposes and can be eaten as fresh sprouts. It contains 22-23% of protein content. Because of high protein level it is used as cattle feed. It has also health benefits. It is used to cure cold and cough, diabetes, calculus, constipation, bronchitis, common fever and urinary diseases.

It gives best results when grown in black cotton soil, loamy soil and clayey soil. It can even survive in stony soil. Avoid cultivation is highly acidic or alkaline soil.

KS 2 (1991): Early maturing variety which gets mature in 80-90 days. The variety is found suitable for dry areas. It has medium sized seeds which are brown in color. In rainfed areas, it gives an average yield of 2.5qtl/acre.

Other state varieties:

CO 1 (1953): The variety gets mature in 110 days. The plant attains the height of 30-40cm. It has buff mottled grain color grain (100 grain weight 4.6gm). Suitable for rainfed areas. It gives an average yield of 3-4 qtl/acre.

Paiyur 1 (1988): The variety gets mature in 110 days. The plant attains the height of 35-40cm. It has light brown grain color grain (100 grain weight 3.4gm).Suitable for rainfed areas. It gives an average yield of 4-4.5 qtl/acre.

Paiyur 2 (1998): The variety gets mature in 100-105 days. The plant attains the height of 40-45cm. It has pale brown color grain (100 grain weight 3.56gm).Suitable for rainfed areas. It gives an average yield of 3.5-4.5 qtl/acre.
 

For horse gram farming, land is prepared to fine tilth. For fine tilth, 3-4 ploughings are required.

Sowing time:
Seeds are sown in the monsoon season. It is grown in the month of July to September month.

Spacing:
Use line to line spacing of 30cm and plant to plant spacing of 10-15cm.

Depth of sowing:
Use 1.5-2cm depth for seed sowing.

Method of sowing:
•    Dibbling method
•    Broadcasting method
 

Seed rate:
Use seed rate of 8-10 kg/acre.

Seed treatment:
Treat the seeds with any one fungicides i.e Carbendazim or Thiram @2gm/kg to protect crop from soil borne diseases.
 

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Application of FYM @50qtl/acre is mixed with soil at the time of land preparation. Use fertilizer dose of urea@8kg/acre, Phosphorus @16kg/acre. Potash is not necessary for this crop.

To retain the moisture in the field, immediate irrigations are required. First irrigation is given immediately after seed sowing. Next life saving irrigation is given on 3rd day of seed sowing. Along with these irrigations, subsequent irrigations are also given whenever required. Irrigation at the time of flower development, pod forming and seed development stages is necessary.

Do frequent weeding, hoeing and earthing up and keep field weed free till 45 days. If weed left uncontrolled then it will reduce crop yield upto 70-90%. Two to three days of after transplantation take spray of Fluchloralin (Basalin) @ 800ml/200Ltr water as pre-emergence weedicide.

• Pest and their control:
  

Stem fly: If infestation is seen, two spraying of quinalphos@2ml/ltr of water is given. Second spray is given after 10 days of first spraying.

Aphids, leaf hopper and whitefly: If infestation is seen then sprays of Methyldematon or Dimethoate or Oberon @2ml/ltr if water is given to get rid of these pests.

• Disease and their control:
  

Root rot: Immediate and full wilting of plants is seen. Leaves give yellow appearance.
Treatment: Seed treatment with Thiram@4gm/kg should be done to protect crop from root rot.
 

Cercospora or powdery mildew: If infestation is seen, spray of Bavistin solution @1% is given to get rid of these diseases.

When legumes get dried then harvesting should be done. It gives an average yield of 3-4 qtl/acre.