Black gram
Soil and field preparation: The black 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 108 cfu/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 seeds 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.