Climate & Soil

Black gram may be grown as pure crop in rice fallows after the harvest of the first or second crop of paddy. It can also be grown as pure or mixed crop during kharif season.

Varieties

• T-9 (moderately tolerant to drought condition)
• Co-2 (photo insensitive; but pest and disease susceptible) 
• TAU-2 (suited for partially shaded condition in coconut garden during rabi season in southern region)
• TMV-1, KM-2 (suited for Onattukara tract during late kharif )
• Syama (suited for the summer rice fallow of Onattukara)
• Sumanjana (high yielding and early maturing variety, suitable for summer rice fallows of Thiruvananthapuram district)
• S-1 (suitable for pappad making)

Seed rate and sowing

Pure crop   - 20kg/ha
Mixed crop  - 6kg/ha

Plough the land 2-3 times thoroughly and remove weeds and stubbles. Spacing of 25cmx15cm will give better yield. For seed treatment in black gram, two Rhizobium cultures viz. KAU-BG-2 and BG-12 are recommended.

Intercultural operations

Manuring

Lime may be applied at the time of first ploughing. Half the quantity of N and the full quantity of P₂O₅ and K₂O may be applied at the time of last ploughing. The remaining quantity of N can be applied as foliar spray of 2% urea solution in two equal doses on the 15^th and 30^th day after sowing.

Plant protection

Apply Carbaryl 0.15% suspension, if pests are observed in serious proportions