Green gram

Soil and field preparation: The green gram crop can be grown in the rabi/summer season after the rice on a variety of soils provided drainage is satisfactory. It can be grown in heavy and light textured soil if the initial moisture is adequate to establish the crop.

Seed treatment – Seeds are treated with antifungal bioagents, Rhizobium and Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria. Seed should be treated with 5–10 g Trichoderma (1 x 10⁸cfu/g) or 2.5 g thiram or 2 g carbendazim per kg of seed for the prevention of soil borne diseases. After seed treatment, the seed should be mixed with Rhizobium culture. One packet of Rhizobium culture (250 g) is sufficient for the seed required for one acre.

Field preparation – No field preparation is required. Pre-sowing herbicide management is done to control the rice ratoon and clear the weeds in the field. Application of glyphosate @ 1.23 kg ai/ha is recommended 7 days before sowing.

Sowing – The treated seeds are sown in lines using seed drill at a depth of around 4-5 cm. The row to row spacing was maintained at 25 cm. For sowing about 25 kg seeds per ha are used.

Fertilizer application – Chemical fertilizer application at the rate of 20:40:20 kg NPK per ha is recommended and applied as basal at the time of sowing.

Water management –2-4 irrigations are done depending on the soil texture. Apply first irrigation after 20-25 days of sowing and repeat after 10-15 days as per need. One irrigation before flowering and another at pod-filing stage would ensure healthy seeds. Water logging in the field should be essentially avoided.

Weed management – Application of pendimethalin 30 EC @ 3.75 ml/l in 800 litres water/ha should be used within 2 days after sowing. If the weedicide is not applied, weeds should be handpicked after 20-25 days after sowing (DAS). If needed, one more handpicking should be done as and when required.

Harvesting – The green gram is generally harvested when 85% of the pods are fully matured. The harvested stack are kept for drying on threshing floor. The harvesting should be avoided in bad weathers.