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.

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.

Type 9: It is an early maturing variety and it is suitable for growing in both rabi and kharif season. In kharif season it matures in 90 days and in zaid season it matures in 75-80 days. It has black color grains and the 1000 seeds have an approximately 38-40gm weight. The variety is resistant to yellow mosaic virus.

Pant Urd 19: It is an early maturing variety which matures in 80-85 days in kharif season and 75 days in zaid season. It has black color seeds and medium sized seeds. The variety is resistant to yellow mosaic virus. It is suitable for sowing in north east areas.

Pant Urd 30: The variety is resistant to yellow mosaic virus and powdery mildew. The variety is suitable for both kharif and zaid season.

Pant Urdd 35: This variety has straight plant and leaves are deep green in color. The variety matures in 80 days. The variety is suitable for both kharif and zaid season. The 1000 seeds have an approximately 40gm weight.

Narendra Urd 1: It is an early maturing variety. The plant attains the height of 45-60cm. The 1000 seeds have an approximately 34-38gm should be done. The variety is resistant to yellow mosaic virus.

UG 218: It is appropriate for kharif season. The variety matures in 75-85 days. It has thick and black color grains. The 1000 seeds have an approximately 42-45gm weight.

Azad Urd 1: The variety matures in75-80 days. The seeds are black in color and are round in shape.

Shekhar 2: The variety matures in 65-85 days. It has wide leaves; deep green color leaves and is long. It has thick grains which are black in color. 1000 seeds have an approximately 44gm weight.

Basant Bahar: It is suitable for Kharif season and gets mature in 70-80 days. It has thick seeds which are black in color. The 1000 seeds have an approximately 48gm weight. The variety is resistant to yellow bacterial disease.

Uttra: Variety is released in Kanpur which matures in 85 days. The variety is resistant to yellow bacterial disease.

Pant Urd 31: The variety is suitable for Kharif season which is released in 2005 in Uttarakhand. The variety matures in 80-85 days. The variety is resistant to yellow mosaic virus.

Pant Urd 40: It has straight developing plants. The variety is resistant to yellow mosaic virus.

To bring soil to fine tilth give two to three ploughing. After each ploughing carry out planking. Keep field weed free.

Time of sowing
In spring season, sowing is done second fortnight of February to first fortnight of March. In rainy season, sowing is done in last week of June to mid-July. In Tarai regions, sowing is done in mid-July to mid-August.

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. Mash 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 Rate
In rainy season, use the seed rate of 5-6kg/acre and in spring season, use seed rate of 10-12kg/acre.

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 fungicides from below

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

At time of sowing, apply Nitrogen@2-3 kg in form of Urea@6-8kg/acre along with Phosphorus@2-3kg/acre in form of Single Super Phosphate@16-20kg/acre and potash@7-9kg/acre in the form of Muriate of potash@12-16kg/acre.

After 30-45 days of harvesting, one to two weedings are required. Immediately after sowing spraying of pendimethalin@800ml/acre in 100ltr water should be done.

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

• 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 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.