BENGALGRAM(Cicer arietinum)

1.SEASON AND VARIETIES

II.SEED RATE

* CO2 - 45 kg/ha as a pure crop to have an optimum plant population 3,25,000/ha.

* CO3 - 90 kg/ha.

* CO 4 - 75 kg/ha.

III.DESCRIPTION OF VARIETIES

IV. MANAGEMENT OF FIELD OPERATIONS

1. FIELD PREPARATION

Prepare the land to fine tilth

2.SEED TREATMENT

a. Treat the seeds with talc formulation of Trichoderma viride @ 4 g/kg seed or Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10 g/kg seed

Biocontrol agents are compatible with biofertilizers

First treat the seeds with biocontrol agents and then with Rhizobium

Fungicides and biocontrol agents are incompatible

b) Application of 12.5 t FYM and seed treatment with the recommended chemicals or biocontrol agents will reduce root rot and wilt incidence.

The above seed treatment will protect the seedlings from seed borne pathogens in the early stages.

3.SEED TREATMENT WITH BACTERIAL CULTURE

Biocontrol agent treated seeds should be again treated with bacterial culture. Three packets of multi strain rhizobial culture issufficient fortreatingthe seeds required for one ha. Use rice kanji as a binder. Dry the bacterial culture treated seeds in shade for 15 minutes before sowing.

Combined application Rhizobium strain CO Be 13 with phosphobacterium increased the yield effectively. Rhizobium CO Be 13 is very effectivethan COC 10.

4.FERTILIZER APPLICATION

Apply fertilizers basally before sowing as follows

Rainfed crop: 12.5 kg N + 25 kg P2O5/ha

Irrigated crop: 25 kg N + 50 kg P2O5/ha

5.SOWING

The seeds soaked in 1% KH2PO4 solution for 4 hrs and dried in shade before sowing. Dibble the seeds by adopting the spacing of 30 cm x 10 cm.

6.WEED MANAGEMENT

Give two hand weedings on 15th and 30th day after sowing.

7.PROTECTION OF FLOWERS AND PODS

Apply NPV 250 larval equivalent/ha; NSKE 5% spray. Neem oil 0.01% for effective control of Helicoverpa. Three sprays of NPV along with 100% aqueous leaf extract of Vitex negundo to control Helicoverpa larvae. ETL for Helicoverpa armegera, is two early instar larvae/10 plants. Apply B.t.k.@ 1.5 l/ha. for effective control of Helicoverpa armigera.

8.MANAGEMENT OF BENGALGRAM WILT

The seeds maybetreated with Pseudomonas fluorescens culture at the rate of 4g/kg of seed and sown. Soil application with P.fluorescens peat culture atthe rate of 2.5 kg/ha is also recommended. the peat culture may be mixed with organic manure or sand and applied along with the rows at the time of sowingand at 30 and 60 days after sowing. Treat the seeds with P.fluorescens talc formulation @ 10g/kg.

Root rot: For Biological control of root rot by the combined application of Trichoderma viride + Pseudomonas fluorescens (4g/ha) is effective.

9.PROTECTION FROM STORAGE PESTS

Grain: Dry the seeds adequately to reduce the moisture level to 10%.

Seed: Admix 1 kg of activated Kaolin for every 100 kg of seed. PACK IN POLYTHENE LINED GUNNY BAG FOR STORATE

10.INTERCROPPING IN BENGALGRAM

Bengalgram is paired row planting with one or two rows of Coriander as intercrop would give the highest return. Wheat can also be intercropped in deep black cotton soil in Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Namakkal and Dharmapuri districts.

11.HARVESTING

Harvest the plants hen all the pods are mature. Thresh the pods and extract seeds.

V.SEED TECHNOLOGY

Sieve size: Use seeds retained by 12/64" (4.8 mm) or 11/64" (4.4 mm) diameter round perforated sieve for large and medikum seeded varieties.

Pre-sowing treatment: Soak the seeds in 1% aqueous solution of KH2PO4 for 3-4 hrs at 1/3rd volume of seeds and quickly air dry in shade.

Seed treatment: Treat the seeds with Pseudomonas fluorasence @10g/kg of seed. Then treat the seeds with rhizobial culture.

(When root rot sets in 45 days, remove allthe affected plants and spray the remaining plants with aqueous solutionof urea (2%), jaggery (2%) and Pseudomonas fluorasence 2g/lit of water immediately and again 10 days after).

Spacing: 30 x10 cm

Fertilizer: NPK @ 10:10:10 kg/ha.

Harvesting: Harvest at physiological maturity of 35-40 days after anthesis when 70-80% pods present creamy colour appearance.

Grading: 13/64" round perforated sieve.

Storage: Activated clay @1:100 (W/W) may be used at 7% moisture content of seeds (700 gauge polythene bag) and 9% moisture content (gunny bag/cloth bags).

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