Horse gram

Horse gram Crop Cultivation

1. HORSEGRAM Scientific name: - Macrotyloma uniflorum Family: - Fabaceae (Legumes)

2. Origin: India Other names: Rabi pulse crop, poor man's pulse crop, test crop for drought, crop of virgin soils. Ulavalu , Kavam , heruli , Kulthi

3. AREA , PRODUCTION, PRODUCTIVITY: Area Production Productivity 1. India 1.17 m.ha. 0.56 m.Tons 800 kg/ha. 2. Telangana. 0.50 lakh. ha 0.25 lakh tones 493 kg/ha. The largest area under this crop (0.56m.ha) is in Karnataka. It is extensively grown in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Madhya Pradesh parts of Maharashtra.

4. Importance : The grain is used as human food and also concentrated feed for cattle.

5. Soils: It can be grown in wide range of soils, mostly on poor lateritic soils and also grown in red and black soils.

6. Climate It can be invariably grown as rainfed crop in areas of low rainfall.

7. Seed rate and spacing It is grown mainly in August-November Seed rate is 25 kg/ha for grain. Seed rate 45x10cm.is 40 kg/ha for fodder. Spacing required-30x10cm (short duration) Long duration – 45x10cm.

8. Seed Treatment: Seed purification can increase the percentage of sprouting, sturdiness, and pest resistance. Seed can be treated with cow urine, Jeevamrutham, Panchagavvya, Biofertilizers and Amruthapani.

9. Varieties: State Varieties Telangana, Andhra Pradesh PDM1, PDM2, VZM1, PHG-62m PHG-9, VZM2, PDP1, Palem1 Bihar BR 5, Birsa Kulthi1, Madhu Himachal Pradesh HPK 2, HPK 4 ( Baizu Kulthi ) Karnataka BGM, Behhal , Hurali1, Hebbal Huarali2 Orissa S27, S28, S39, S164 Tamilnadu CO1, 35-5-122, 35-5-123 Other varieties: BGM1, VLG4, TPK2, TPK6

10. Fertilizers: The crop normally receives no fertilizers. A basal dose of 10kg N, 25kg P2O5, 20kg K2O ha-1 are recommended.

11. Fertilizer in organic farming depends on the following factors: On nutrients such as those in the soil. On the nutrients from the rain. On top of the soil fertilizer. Above ground microorganisms (nitrogen fixing bacteria, phosphorus, solubilizer bacteria, potash solubilizer). Depends on the nutrients sprayed on the crops. 10 tonnes of cattle manure per acre in the last Tillage. Spray the liquid Jeevamrutham once every 15 days. Spray 3% Panchagavvya at the time of Crop Season twice or thrice.

12. Irrigation & Weed control This crop does not require much irrigation as it is grown as rainfed crop irrigation is essential at flowering and pod formation stage . Weeding should be done 25-30 days after sowing.

13. Cropping systems: Crop rotation – Groundnut – Horse gram Sesame – Horse gram Mesta – Horse gram Upland paddy – Horse gram Inter cropping: Ragi + Horse gram Maize + Horse gram Niger + Horse gram

14. Harvesting and storage: Harvesting is done by pickings in the indeterminate types and cut the entire plant in determinate type. Threshing done with the help of sticks to separate seed. Then the seeds are stored in gunny bags. Protect the seed from stored grain pests it must treat with edible oil.

15. Quality considerations and By product utilization: Horse gram is commonly termed poor man’s legume. The average protein content is 22%, fat 1%, carbohydrate 62%, ash-4.5% Cooked seed and soups are nutritious Roasted grains are salted and consumed as confectionary items. Horse gram finds greater use as animal feed particularly for horses and cattle. Green foliage is an excellent fodder source in South India.

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