Gram (Chickpea) (Cicer arietinum L.)
Importance
- India is the largest producer of gram in the world, contributing about 65% of global area and nearly 70% of global production.
- It is the major pulse crop in India in terms of acreage and production, followed by pigeon pea.
- Origin: Afghanistan (Persia region).
Nutritional Value
- Protein content: ~21%
- Rich source of calcium, iron, and niacin.
- Medicinal uses:
- Used as a blood purifier.
- Germinated seeds recommended for scurvy.
Area and Production in India
- Top States (Area): Madhya Pradesh > Rajasthan > Maharashtra > Uttar Pradesh.
- Top States (Production): Madhya Pradesh > Rajasthan > Uttar Pradesh.
- Madhya Pradesh alone contributes nearly 40% of India’s gram production.
Classification
Type | Features |
Desi / Brown Gram (Cicer arietinum) | – Most widely grown |
Kabuli / White Gram (Cicer kabulium) | – Bold, attractive white seeds |
Botanical Description
- Family: Fabaceae (sub-family: Papilionaceae)
- Root system: Strong tap root
- Photosynthesis: C3 plant, long-day type
- Flowering: Sensitive to frost during flowering
- Fruit: Pod
Key points:
- Sour taste of leaves/pods: maleic acid (90–96%) + oxalic acid (4–10%).
- Photosynthetic rate falls after flowering due to nodule degeneration.
- Overlap of vegetative and reproductive phases causes competition between leaves (source) and pods (sink).
Agronomic Practices
Aspect | Details |
Seedbed Preparation | Rough, cloddy seedbed for better aeration |
Optimum Sowing Time | Mid-October (15–20 Oct); Late sowing in early December for suitable varieties |
Seed Rate | 80–100 kg/ha (normal); increase by 25% for late sowing |
Sowing Depth | 8–10 cm (protects from wilt disease) |
Spacing | 30 × 10 cm |
Critical Irrigation Stages | 1. Pre-flowering |
Yield | 20–25 q/ha |
Management Notes:
- Deep sowing → protects from wilt disease.
- Late sowing → reduces wilt but increases pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) infestation.
- Nipping/Topping:
- Manual pruning at 50–60 DAS to promote reproductive growth.
- Chemical nipping: TIBA (Tri-iodobenzoic acid) @ 75 ppm.
Varieties
Desi Gram Varieties
- Pusa-256 (BG-256) – common, rainfed conditions.
- C-235 – tolerant to Ascochyta blight, suited for dryland.
- Avrodhi – wilt resistant (like JG-74).
- Gaurav – resistant to Ascochyta blight.
- RS-11 – mutant variety.
- ICCC-2 – short duration, early maturing.
- Radhey, H-208, BG-261 – good for late planting.
- Aparna (2006) – improved short-duration variety.
Kabuli Gram Varieties
- C-104, K-4 – green seed retention, bold seeded.
- RSG-2, GNG-16 – improved kabuli varieties.
Quick Facts
- Fruit: Pod
- Sowing depth: 8–10 cm
- Seed rate: 80–100 kg/ha
- Nipping: Encourages more pod setting
- Critical stages for irrigation: Pre-flowering & Pod development
- Most drought-resistant pulse crop
- Late sowing: Reduces seedling wilt but increases seed rate by 25%
Chickpea is known as the “King of Pulses”, highly valued for its nutritional, medicinal, and agronomic importance.
