Urad cultivation - a complete description
Urad, also known as urad dal or black lentil, is one of the major pulse crops of India. This nutrient-rich crop is not only an important part of the human diet but also provides nutritious fodder for livestock. Black gram cultivation is not only beneficial for farmers but it also helps in increasing soil fertility as it is useful as green manure. In this article, we will learn about black gram cultivation in detail, covering all aspects like climate, soil, sowing, fertilizer, irrigation, pest control, and harvesting.
Climate for Urad Cultivation
Urad is a tropical crop that requires a warm and humid climate to grow. It thrives well in hot weather. In the northern regions of India, where the temperature drops significantly in winters, urad is mainly cultivated in Kharif (June-July) and summer (February-April) seasons. In southern India, where the climate does not change much, it can also be grown in Rabi (October-November) season.
Key Points
- The ideal temperature for urad cultivation is 25-35°C.
- This crop is suitable for Kharif season in areas with normal rainfall. It may get damaged in excess rainfall.
- Summer sowing in cold areas gives better results.
Soil and Land Preparation
Urad can be cultivated in different types of soils, such as sandy soil, loamy soil, and heavy black cotton soil. However, well-drained loamy soil, with a pH value between 6.5 and 7.8, is considered most suitable. Alkaline or saline soils are unsuitable for this crop.
Land Preparation
1. Level the field by ploughing it lightly 2-3 times.
2. Prepare the field like other pulses of Kharif season. In simple words, no more ploughing is required.
3. Increase the fertility of the soil by adding organic manure (such as cow dung manure) to the field.
4. Initial ploughing is necessary to remove weeds.
Sowing Time and Method
The sowing time of urad varies according to the region and season.
- Kharif season - Sowing begins with the arrival of monsoon in late June or early July.
- Rabi season - Sowing from mid-October to mid-November is suitable in South India.
- Summer - Sowing can be done from the third week of February to the first week of March.
Do not sow in areas where there is heavy rainfall.
Method of sowing
- Use drill for sowing, so that seeds are sown at equal depth.
- Keep a distance of 20-25 cm between rows.
- Distance between plants should be 5-8 cm.
Seed rate
- Kharif - 4-5 kg seed per bigha
- Rabi – 6-7 kg (upland) and 8 kg (for fallow paddy) per bigha
- Summer – 8-7 kg seed per bigha
Seed treatment
Seed treatment is necessary to protect the urad crop from diseases and pests.
- Disease control - Treat with thiram (2 g) + carbendazim (1 g) or only carbendazim (2.5 g per kg seed).
- Pest control - Use imidacloprid 70 WS (7 g per kg seed).
- Biological treatment - Seed treatment with Rhizobium and PSB culture (5-7 g per kg seed) helps to increase soil fertility.
Crop rotation and inter-cropping
Crop rotation and inter-cropping system in urad cultivation is helpful in maintaining soil fertility and increasing production.
Crop rotation
- Maize-Potato-Urad
- Maize-Toria-Urad
- Rice-Wheat-Urad
- Urad-Mustard-Moong
- Potato-Wheat-Urad
Inter-cropping
- Kharif - Urad + Arhar (1:1)
- Spring - Urad + Sugarcane (2:1), Urad + Sunflower (2:6)
Fertilizer management
Balanced use of fertilizers for urad crop is important in increasing the yield.
- Main fertilizers
- Nitrogen 4-5 kg per bigha
- Phosphorus - 7- 8 kg per bigha
- Potash - 9-10 kg per bigha
- Sulphur - 3 kg per bigha (at the time of last ploughing)
- Secondary and micro nutrients
- Sulphur - In medium black soil and sandy loam soil (5 kg sulphur per bigha 30 kg gypsum or 5 kg bentonite sulphur). In red sandy soil 10 kg sulphur per bigha
- Zinc - According to the type of soil 500 -600 grams of zinc per bigha. For example, in red sandy soil 3-4 kg zinc sulphate heptahydrate should be added per bigha.
Method of fertilizer application - Put the fertilizer at the time of sowing by drilling at a depth of 5-7 cm below the seed.
Water management
- Kharif season - Irrigation is not required if there is normal rainfall. If there is lack of moisture in the pods, then do a light irrigation at the pod filling stage. Do not do too much irrigation
- Summer - 3-4 irrigations are necessary, especially during flowering and pod formation stage. Irrigate every 10-15 days.
Weed Control
For weed control in urad crop, do weeding once or twice till 40 days after sowing. For chemical control, mix pendimethalin (500 grams per acre) in 200-250 liters of water and spray after sowing and before germination.
Pest and Disease Management
Urad crop is threatened by many pests and diseases. Their timely control is necessary.
Major Diseases
1. Yellow Mosaic Virus (MYMV)
- Symptoms - Yellow spots on leaves, which later turn the whole plant yellow. Growth of flowers and pods stops.
- Control
- Remove diseased plants.
- Spray Trizophos 40 EC (2 ml/liter) or Imidacloprid (0.2 ml/liter) to control white fly.
- Grow resistant varieties like IPU 94-1, Shekhar 3, Ujala, and Pratap Urad 1.
2. Powdery Mildew
Symptoms - White powdery coating on leaves, stems and pods.
- Control
- Spray neem oil (20 ml/liter) or water soluble sulphur (4 kg/ha).
- Select resistant varieties like COBG10, LBG 648, and IPU 02-43.
3. Leaf blight
- Symptoms - Brown spots on stem, which form sclerotia.
- Control
- Use zinc sulphate (5 kg/ bigha) or neem cake (30 kg/ bigha).
- Spray carbendazim (1 gm/ litre).
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