Mash Crop Cultivation

General Information

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 mash areas are Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

Climate

  • Season

    Temperature

    15-30°C
  • Season

    Rainfall

    50-75cm
  • Season

    Sowing Temperature

    25-35°C
  • Season

    Harvesting Temperature

    18-25°C
  • Season

    Temperature

    15-30°C
  • Season

    Rainfall

    50-75cm
  • Season

    Sowing Temperature

    25-35°C
  • Season

    Harvesting Temperature

    18-25°C
  • Season

    Temperature

    15-30°C
  • Season

    Rainfall

    50-75cm
  • Season

    Sowing Temperature

    25-35°C
  • Season

    Harvesting Temperature

    18-25°C
  • Season

    Temperature

    15-30°C
  • Season

    Rainfall

    50-75cm
  • Season

    Sowing Temperature

    25-35°C
  • Season

    Harvesting Temperature

    18-25°C

Soil

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

Popular Varieties With Their Yield

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 3 qtl/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 5 qtl/acre. The variety gets mature in 85 days. The variety is resistant to YMV (Yellow Mosaic Virus).

Barkha (RBU 38): Released by RAU, Banswara in 1999. It has bold seeds and the variety is resistant to Cercospora leaf spot. It gives an average yield of 5 qtl/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 4.5-5 qtl/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 6 qtl/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 5-6 qtl/acre. The variety gets mature in 70-75 days.

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

Other state varieties:

AL-15
: It is a short duration variety, matures in 135 days. Pods are borne in clusters. It gives average yield of 5.5 qtl/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 6.2 qtl/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 5.6 qtl/acre.

PPH 4: First arhar hybrid in Punjab. It matures in 145 days. Plants are tall and about 2.5 to 3meter tall. Each pod contains 5 yellowish brown seeds of medium size. It gives average yield of 7.2-8 qtl/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 acre. It is susceptible to sterility mosaic disease.

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

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

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

IPA 203 and IPH 09-5 (Hybrid)
 

Land Preparation

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 drainage is good.

Sowing

Time of sowing
Optimum time for kharif sowing is last week of June to first week of July. Optimum time for summer cultivation is from March to April. For sub-mountainous region, complete sowing from 15-25 July.

Spacing
Use row spacing of 30cm and plant to plant spacing of 10cm for Kharif sowing. For Rabi sowing use row spacing of 22.5cm and plant to plant spacing of 4-5cm.

Sowing Depth
Sow seeds at depth of 4-6cm. Black gram grown in hilly areas are of better quality.

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

Seed

Seed Rate
For kharif sowing use seed rate of 5-6 kg/acre whereas for summer sowing use seed rate of 19-20 kg/acre of bold seeds.

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 seeds with Rhizobium@2gm/kg of seeds.

Use any one fungicide from below

Fungicide name Quantiy (Dosage per kg seed)
Carbendazim 2.5gm
Captan 2.5gm
Thiram 2.5gm
Mancozeb 2.5gm


 

Fertilizer

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

UREA SSP MOP ZINC
11 70 # #

 

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

NITROGEN PHOSPHORUS POTASH
4-5 60 #

 

At time of sowing, apply Nitrogen@4-5kg in form of Urea@11kg per acre and Phosphorus@12-15kg in form of SSP@70kg/acre.

 

Irrigation

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

Plant protection

Yellow Mosaic Virus
  • Disease 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

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.

Aphids
  • 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

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

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

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

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

Blister Beetle

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.

Harvesting

Best time for harvesting of mash 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.