Climate
• Red gram prefers a temperature range of 18-30°C, with an ideal range of 20-28°C. It can tolerate higher temperatures (up to 40°C) if sufficient moisture is available.
Soil
• Red gram can adapt to various soil types, but it performs best in deep, well-drained loam soils. The soil should be deep well drained and free from soluble soils
Tillage
• The seed bed preparation for pigeon pea requires one deep ploughing followed by 2 to 3 harrowing. Deep summer ploughing helps moisture conservation in dry lands. Though leveling is needed for quick drainage and to avoid water logging.
Sowing time
• Sowing should be done between 15th June to 15th July or aligned with the start of monsoon.
Sowing method
• Sowing should be done with seed drill or manual sowing.
• Seed rate: 4-6 Kg/ac.
Spacing & Depth of Sowing
• Normally crop spacing depends on the soil type and fertility and also irrigation availability. Generally recommended spacing is 90x30cm or 120x30cm.
Manures & Fertilizers
• 10 tones FYM per hectare and fertilizer should be applied as follows.
Fertilizer
• The recommended fertilizer dose is 8:24:8 Kg/ac to be applied as basal dose during land preparation and apply 10 Kg of ZnSo4 per acre before sowing.
• For effective fertilizer doses follow the guideline from your respective SAU.
Weed control
• Pre-emergent herbicides: Pendimethalin 3ml/lt water can be applied at optimum soil moisture before germination to maintain weed free field up to 30 days. Two hand weeding and two hoeing should be done to keep the crop weed free.
Irrigation
• For better germination light irrigation need to be given just after sowing. Optimum moisture is crucial at flowering and pod development stages.
Plant Protection
• Pod borer, Leaf roller and pod fly results in 30-50% damage during flowering and pod development stage.
• Control Measure - Spray Emamectin benzoate 5% SG @ 1.0 g/lt of water or Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC @ 0.2 ml/lt of water.
Diseases & Pest Control Measure
• Wilt is soil borne disease caused by Fusarium oxysporium. It can be reduced by following crop rotation, proper drainage and seed treatment with Tichoderma viride.
Harvesting
• Crop should be harvested after attaining 75-80% pod maturity stage.
Note
• It is advised to approach the nearest KVK or Agril. Dept or Agril. Univ. scientist to take appropriate local measures.
• Good yield can be expected under optimum regional management and recommended package of practices.