Blackgram

Land Requirements Land to be used for seed production shall be free of volunteer plants.  
Isolation Requirements Since the pollen shedding takes place long before the petals open, self-pollination is the rule. therefore,an isolation of ten metres for foundation seed, and five metres for certified seed class from fields of other varieties and same vareity not conforming to varietal purity requirements for certification is necessary.

 

Cultural Practices

Time of Sowing The crop comes up well in the Kharif season. However, it can be sown either in the second week of February, soon after the wheat harvest in April or in the Kharif season. In the South it also comes up well in the Rabi season in light soils with moisture retentive capacity. It can also be grown in rice fallow after paddy.
  


Preparation of Land Theland should be prepared well by one to two harrowings, followed by levelling. If the crop is being taken after wheat or paddy (in the South), no preparation is necessary and seeding can be done after giving one presowing irrigation.


Source of Seed Obtain breeder's/foundation seeds from source approved by a seed certification agency.


Seed Rate

Kharif and Rabi season crop - 15 to 20 kg per ha

Spring and Summer crop - 25 to 30 kg per ha


Method of Sowing The seed should be planted in rows.


Fertilisation A basal application of twenty five carts of farm yard manure in addition to 20 kg nitrogen and 35 to 40 kg phosphorus per hectare is recommended for kharif season crop.



Spacing Kharif and - Row to row 30 to 45 cm
Rabi crop - Plant to plant 7 to 10 cm
Spring and -Row to row 20 to 25 cm
Summer crop Plant to plant 7 to 10 cm
   


Irrigation Frequent irrigation for the spring and summer ceop is expecially necessary. the kharif crop normally does not require any irrigation. One to two irrigation may be required if there is prolonged dry period.


Interculture It is essential to keep theweeds under suppression. Hence, one or two weedings and hoeings may be done. Apraying of one kg treflan (active compound) in 1000 litres ofwater per hectare on the soil, at the time of the final preparation, has also been found quite effective for controlling weeds..


Insect and Disease Control Adopt recommended IPM methods


Roguing The offtype plants, and severely diseased plants, should be rogued out from time to time as required.


Harvesting and Threshing

Forsummer and spring crop, start picking when pods turn black. In kharif crop start harvesting when most of the pods have turned black. The threshing can be done by hand to avoid injury to seeds. After threshing and cleaning, the seeds should be dried to nine per cent moisture before storage.


Seed Yield
10 to 15 qtl per hectare (Black gram)