How to grow black gram: Black matpe (Vigna mungo) is a South Asian bean. Like the mung bean, it has been moved from Phaseolus to Vigna. The full urad bean is sold as a black lentil, while the split bean is sold as a white lentil. It is not to be mistaken with the actual black lentil.
The black gram is an old South Asian crop and one of India’s most coveted pulses. It is fairly common in Indian cooking. In India, black gram is a major pulse crop farmed in Kharif and Rabi. It is widely grown in southern India, northern Bangladesh, and Nepal. Bangladeshi and Nepalese call it mash daal. It is a famous South Asian daal (legume) side dish served with curries and rice. The black gram has been introduced to the Caribbean, Fiji, Mauritius, Myanmar, and Africa.
- English name: Black gram.
- Scientific name: Vigna mungo.
- Family: Fabaceae.
Importance of Black Gram
Black gram is one of the most important pulses crops grown worldwide. This crop is resistant to adverse climatic conditions and improves soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen in the soil. This crop is grown primarily for its protein-rich seeds and used as daal and breakfast’s main ingredient.
Variety of Black Gram
BARI Mash 1(Pantho), BARI mash 2 (Short), BARI mash 3 (Hemonto).
Favorable Climate for Black Gram cultivation
- It is generally grown in Kharif/rainy and summer seasons.
- It grows best in hot and humid conditions with an ideal temperature range between 25 to 35o C.
- It can be grown successfully from sea level up to 1800 meters.
- Heavy rains during flowering are harmful.
- It is best suited to areas having an annual rainfall of 60 to 75 cm.
Soil for Black gram cultivation
The soil in Black Gram cultivation should have neutral pH. Loam or clay loam soils are the best-suited soils for their cultivation. Adding higher organic matter to soil will result in vigorous seed production.
Land Preparation
The land should be prepared by 2-3 plowing, cross plowing with laddering.
Method of sowing
Broadcasting and line sowing can be done. For line sowing, row to row distance 30 cm. Broadcasting can be done in Kharif2 season. Seeds should not be sown more than 5 to 6 cm in depth.
Seed Rate
35-40 kg/ha.
Seed treatment
· Seed should be treated with thiram @ 2.5 g / kg seed.
· It should be treated with rhizobium culture for atmospheric N fixation.
Time of sowing
• In Kharif1 season: Late February to Mid-March.
• In Kharif2 season: 15 August to 31 August.
Fertilizer Application
Fertilizer Quantity/ ha
- Urea: 40-50 kg
- TSP: 85-95 kg
- MoP: 30-40 kg
- Biofertilizer: 4-5 kg
All fertilizer should be applied at the end of the land preparation process. Biofertilizer can be applied at 80 g per kg of seed. There is no need to use Urea if inoculum fertilizer is used.
Weed control
Basalin weedicide is sprayed immediately after sowing and watering by dissolving 2 mL of Basalin/liter water. Weedicide spraying must be completed within three days of sowing. If done later, it may harm the crop. Weedicide will control early growing weeds; nevertheless, human weeding should be done after 2 weeks to manage later sprouting weeds in the crop.
Irrigation
Irrigation is not required during the rainy season. However, irrigation should be provided based on crucial stages and irrigation water availability throughout the summer season. The number and frequency of irrigations are determined by soil type and weather. Irrigation should be done every 1015 days on the crop. From the blossoming stage until the pod development stage, there is a need for adequate moisture in the field.
Disease and Pest control
YM virus, Leaf curl, Seed rot, and Anthracnose are the main disease of Black gram.
- YM virus: Spray Metasystox & Malathion.
- Leaf curl: 23 sprays of Metasystox at 10 days intervals.
- Seed/seedling rot: Seed treatment with Thiram/carbendazim 2.5 g/kg seed.
- Anthracnose: Spray Mancozeb/zineb @ 2 kg in 1000 lit. of water.
Hairy caterpillars, leafhoppers, and jassids are the main insect pest of Black gram.
- Hairy caterpillar: Dusting 2n % methyl parathion @2530kg/ha.
- Leafhopper: Basal application of Phorate @ 10 kg/ha. Spray monocrotophos @ 1ml/lit. Of water.
- Jassids: Basal application of Phorate @ 10 kg/ha. Spray monocrotophos @ 1ml/lit. Of water.
Harvesting of Black gram
Time: Kharif-1: Early May. and Kharif-2/Rabi: Late October.
Dried pods and plants Grains harden, and the moisture percentage in grain during harvest should be 2022 percent. Ripe pods can be picked from the plants and dried on the floor in one or two pickings. If the plants are ready to be harvested, the crop should be cut, and the plants spread out to dry on the floor. The plants dry out and turn black, and the pods may split. The plants should be hammered with plastic sticks to avoid seed damage. The seeds are then separated from the pods. After harvesting, these plants can be utilized as animal feed.
The yield of Black gram cultivation
- 1.5-1.8 ton/ha.