🫘 Pulse Crops
Cultivation practices of chickpea, pigeonpea, lentil, and mung bean for CUET Agriculture
Pulses are grain legumes — crops grown primarily for their protein-rich dry seeds. What makes pulses truly special in agriculture is their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium bacteria in their root nodules. This biological nitrogen fixation improves soil fertility naturally, making pulses invaluable in crop rotations and sustainable farming systems.
- India is the largest producer, consumer, and importer of pulses in the world. Despite being the top producer, India still imports pulses because domestic production cannot keep pace with the massive demand from its large vegetarian population.
- Pulses contribute about 25% of dietary protein for the vegetarian population of India, earning them the title "poor man's meat."
- Total pulse production in India: approximately 25-28 million tonnes annually.
NOTE
All pulses belong to the family Fabaceae (Leguminosae) and share the common ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen through Rhizobium symbiosis in their root nodules. This means pulses leave the soil richer in nitrogen than they found it — typically adding 20-40 kg N/ha to the soil for the next crop.
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Pulses are grain legumes — crops grown primarily for their protein-rich dry seeds. What makes pulses truly special in agriculture is their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium bacteria in their root nodules. This biological nitrogen fixation improves soil fertility naturally, making pulses invaluable in crop rotations and sustainable farming systems.
- India is the largest producer, consumer, and importer of pulses in the world. Despite being the top producer, India still imports pulses because domestic production cannot keep pace with the massive demand from its large vegetarian population.
- Pulses contribute about 25% of dietary protein for the vegetarian population of India, earning them the title "poor man's meat."
- Total pulse production in India: approximately 25-28 million tonnes annually.
NOTE
All pulses belong to the family Fabaceae (Leguminosae) and share the common ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen through Rhizobium symbiosis in their root nodules. This means pulses leave the soil richer in nitrogen than they found it — typically adding 20-40 kg N/ha to the soil for the next crop.
1. Chickpea / Bengal Gram (Cicer arietinum)
Chickpea is India's most important pulse crop — India alone produces about 70% of the world's chickpea supply. It is a cool-season Rabi crop that grows mainly on conserved soil moisture after the monsoon, requiring very little irrigation.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Family | Fabaceae (Leguminosae) |
| Origin | South-West Asia (Turkey/Mediterranean) |
| Chromosome number | 2n = 16 |
| Type | Rabi crop; self-pollinated; C3 plant |
| India's rank | Largest producer globally (~70% of world production) |
| Top states | MP (largest), Rajasthan, Maharashtra, UP, Karnataka |
Types:
- Desi (Kala chana): Small, angular, dark coloured seeds with a rough seed coat. Desi types occupy 85% of India's chickpea area and are used to make besan (gram flour) and chana dal.
- Kabuli (Chhola): Large, round, cream/white seeds with a smooth seed coat. These fetch a higher market price and are used in dishes like chole/hummus.
Climate and Soil:
- Temperature: 20-30 °C (cool weather); chickpea is sensitive to frost at flowering, which can destroy flowers and cause severe yield loss.
- Rainfall: 60-90 cm; mostly grown as a rainfed crop on conserved soil moisture from the preceding monsoon season.
- Soil: Well-drained loam with pH 6.0-8.0. Chickpea is highly sensitive to waterlogging — even brief waterlogging can cause root rot and plant death. Excess moisture is its biggest enemy.
Cultivation:
| Practice | Details |
|---|---|
| Seed rate | Desi: 60-80 kg/ha; Kabuli: 80-100 kg/ha (larger seeds need higher seed rate) |
| Spacing | 30 x 10 cm |
| Sowing time | October-November |
| Fertilizer (NPK) | 20-40-20 kg/ha; Rhizobium inoculation recommended |
| Irrigation | 1-2 irrigations (usually rainfed); critical at flowering and pod filling |
| Duration | 90-150 days |
| Yield | 15-25 q/ha (irrigated) |
Note the low nitrogen dose (20 kg/ha) — this is because chickpea (like all pulses) fixes its own nitrogen through Rhizobium. The small starter dose of N helps the crop establish before nodules become functional. Rhizobium seed inoculation is recommended to ensure adequate nodulation, especially in fields where chickpea is being grown for the first time.
Varieties: Pusa-256, JG-11, JG-14, JAKI-9218, KAK-2, Pusa-362
Key pests: Gram pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) — the most damaging pest of chickpea. A single Helicoverpa larva can destroy multiple pods. Fusarium wilt is the most important disease, caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri.
2. Pigeonpea / Red Gram / Arhar (Cajanus cajan)
Pigeonpea holds a unique distinction: it is the only pulse crop that originated in India. It is a hardy, deep-rooted Kharif crop used to make Toor/Arhar dal — the most widely consumed dal across India.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Family | Fabaceae |
| Origin | India (only pulse crop of Indian origin) |
| Chromosome number | 2n = 22 |
| Type | Kharif crop; often cross-pollinated (insect-mediated); C3 plant |
| India's rank | Largest producer globally |
| Top states | Maharashtra, Karnataka, MP, UP, Telangana |
IMPORTANT
Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) is the only major pulse crop that originated in India. This is a high-priority CUET fact. India is also the largest producer. Additionally, pigeonpea was the first pulse crop to have its genome sequenced (by ICRISAT in 2012).
Climate and Soil:
- Temperature: 25-35 °C; pigeonpea is drought-tolerant thanks to its deep tap root system that can access moisture from deeper soil layers — a survival advantage in erratic rainfall zones.
- Rainfall: 60-100 cm
- Soil: Well-drained loam; pH 5.5-7.5. Like all pulses, it is sensitive to waterlogging.
Cultivation:
| Practice | Details |
|---|---|
| Seed rate | 12-15 kg/ha |
| Spacing | 60-75 x 20-25 cm (wider spacing because pigeonpea is a tall, bushy plant) |
| Sowing time | June-July |
| Fertilizer (NPK) | 20-50-20 kg/ha; Rhizobium + PSB (Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria) inoculation |
| Duration | Short: 120-150 days; Medium: 150-180 days; Long: 180-270 days |
| Yield | 12-20 q/ha |
Pigeonpea is unique in having three maturity groups — short, medium, and long duration. Short-duration varieties like UPAS-120 mature in about 120-150 days and fit well into intensive cropping systems, while long-duration varieties (180-270 days) are traditional types that yield more but occupy the land longer.
Varieties: Asha (ICPL-87119), Maruti, UPAS-120 (short duration), Pusa-992, Bahar
Special Points:
- Used to make Toor/Arhar dal — the most consumed dal in India
- Its deep root system improves soil structure and brings up nutrients from deeper layers, benefiting the next crop in rotation
- Sterility mosaic disease (transmitted by eriophyid mites) and Fusarium wilt are major diseases
3. Lentil / Masoor (Lens culinaris)
Lentil is a short-statured, cool-season Rabi pulse that grows well on residual soil moisture with minimal irrigation. Its flat, lens-shaped seeds (the word "lens" actually comes from the Latin name for lentil!) are rich in protein and iron.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Family | Fabaceae |
| Origin | Near East/Mediterranean |
| Chromosome number | 2n = 14 |
| Type | Rabi crop; self-pollinated; C3 plant |
| Top states | MP, UP, Bihar, West Bengal |
Climate and Soil:
- Temperature: 15-25 °C — a cool weather crop that performs best in the Rabi season.
- Rainfall: 25-50 cm; lentil is grown primarily on residual moisture remaining in the soil after the monsoon season, making it an extremely low-input crop.
- Soil: Light loam to sandy loam; well-drained; pH 6.0-7.5.
Cultivation:
| Practice | Details |
|---|---|
| Seed rate | 30-40 kg/ha |
| Spacing | 25-30 x 5-8 cm |
| Sowing time | October-November |
| Fertilizer (NPK) | 20-40-20 kg/ha |
| Duration | 100-130 days |
| Yield | 10-15 q/ha |
Varieties: Pant L-406, PL-4, K-75, IPL-81, Moitree
TIP
Lentil has a relatively low yield potential (10-15 q/ha) compared to other pulses. This is because it is a short-statured, low-input crop typically grown on marginal lands with minimal irrigation. However, its very low input cost makes it economically viable for small farmers.
4. Mung Bean / Green Gram (Vigna radiata)
Mung bean is the shortest-duration pulse among all major pulses, maturing in just 60-75 days. This remarkably short crop cycle makes it the perfect catch crop — a crop squeezed in between two main crops. Growing summer mung bean between wheat harvest and rice sowing is now widely practiced across the Indo-Gangetic Plains.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Family | Fabaceae |
| Origin | India |
| Chromosome number | 2n = 22 |
| Type | Kharif / Spring / Summer; self-pollinated; C3 plant |
| Top states | Rajasthan, MP, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Bihar |
Climate and Soil:
- Temperature: 25-35 °C; a short-duration, warm-season crop that grows rapidly.
- Rainfall: 60-75 cm; drought-tolerant but sensitive to waterlogging (a common trait of all pulses).
- Soil: Well-drained sandy loam to loam; pH 6.0-7.5.
Cultivation:
| Practice | Details |
|---|---|
| Seed rate | 15-20 kg/ha |
| Spacing | 30 x 10 cm |
| Sowing time | Kharif: July; Spring/Summer: March-April |
| Fertilizer (NPK) | 20-40-20 kg/ha; Rhizobium inoculation |
| Duration | 60-75 days (shortest among major pulses) |
| Yield | 8-12 q/ha |
Varieties: Pusa Vishal, SML-668, IPM 02-3, Virat, Pusa Ratna
Special Points:
- Shortest duration pulse — fits perfectly as a catch crop in the rice-wheat system. Farmers sow mung bean in March-April after wheat harvest and harvest it in May-June before rice transplanting.
- Summer mung bean after wheat (before rice) adds 20-25 kg N/ha to the soil through biological nitrogen fixation, reducing the fertilizer requirement of the following rice crop.
- Rich in proteins (24-26%) and easily digestible — commonly consumed as sprouted mung, dal, and in various preparations.
- Yellow Mosaic Virus (YMV), transmitted by whitefly, is the most important disease of mung bean.
Comparison of Major Pulses
| Parameter | Chickpea | Pigeonpea | Lentil | Mung Bean |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Rabi | Kharif | Rabi | Kharif/Summer |
| 2n | 16 | 22 | 14 | 22 |
| Origin | SW Asia | India | Near East | India |
| Duration (days) | 90-150 | 120-270 | 100-130 | 60-75 |
| Top state | MP | Maharashtra | MP | Rajasthan |
| Major pest | Helicoverpa | Helicoverpa + Wilt | Rust, Wilt | YMV, Cercospora |
Key Points for CUET
Quick Revision — Must-Remember Facts
- Pigeonpea is the only pulse crop of Indian origin — also the first pulse to have its genome sequenced (ICRISAT, 2012)
- Chickpea (Bengal gram): India produces ~70% of world's supply; MP is the top state
- Mung bean: Shortest duration pulse (60-75 days) — excellent catch crop in rice-wheat system
- All pulses fix atmospheric nitrogen through Rhizobium symbiosis in root nodules
- Helicoverpa armigera — major pest of chickpea, pigeonpea, cotton, and tomato (most polyphagous pest)
- Pulses have low nitrogen fertilizer requirement (20 kg/ha) because they fix their own N
- India is the largest producer, consumer, AND importer of pulses
- Mung bean and pigeonpea both originated in India; chickpea and lentil are from West Asia
- Kabuli chickpea has larger, cream-coloured seeds; Desi has smaller, dark, angular seeds (85% area)
Summary Cheat Sheet
| Concept / Topic | Key Details / Explanation |
|---|---|
| Pulses — Family | Fabaceae (Leguminosae); fix N via Rhizobium in root nodules |
| India's pulse status | Largest producer, consumer, AND importer |
| Protein contribution | ~25% of dietary protein for vegetarians; called "poor man's meat" |
| N fixation | Pulses add 20-40 kg N/ha to soil for next crop |
| Chickpea | Cicer arietinum; 2n = 16; Rabi; self-pollinated |
| Chickpea — India share | ~70% of world production; top state: MP |
| Chickpea types | Desi (85% area, small dark angular, besan/dal) vs Kabuli (large cream, higher price) |
| Chickpea — Seed rate | Desi: 60-80 kg/ha; Kabuli: 80-100 kg/ha |
| Chickpea — Fertilizer | 20-40-20 NPK (low N due to fixation) |
| Chickpea — Major pest | Helicoverpa armigera (gram pod borer) |
| Chickpea — Major disease | Fusarium wilt (F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceri) |
| Pigeonpea | Cajanus cajan; 2n = 22; Kharif; often cross-pollinated |
| Pigeonpea — Key fact | Only pulse of Indian origin; first genome sequenced (ICRISAT 2012) |
| Pigeonpea — Top state | Maharashtra; seed rate 12-15 kg/ha |
| Pigeonpea — Duration | Short (120-150 d), Medium (150-180 d), Long (180-270 d) |
| Pigeonpea — Diseases | Sterility mosaic (eriophyid mites) + Fusarium wilt |
| Lentil | Lens culinaris; 2n = 14; Rabi; self-pollinated |
| Lentil — Climate | Cool weather; rainfall 25-50 cm; grown on residual moisture |
| Lentil — Seed rate | 30-40 kg/ha; yield 10-15 q/ha (low) |
| Mung bean | Vigna radiata; 2n = 22; origin India |
| Mung bean — Key fact | Shortest duration pulse (60-75 days); excellent catch crop in rice-wheat system |
| Mung bean — N addition | Summer mung adds 20-25 kg N/ha |
| Mung bean — Major disease | Yellow Mosaic Virus (YMV) transmitted by whitefly |
| Low N fertilizer | All pulses need only 20 kg N/ha (starter dose) |
| All pulses sensitive to | Waterlogging |
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