Gram (Chickpea) (Cicer arietinum L.)
Importance
- India is the largest producer of gram in the world, sharing about 65% of the global area and around 70% of global production.
- 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 blood purifier; germinated seeds recommended for scurvy.
Area and Production in India
Area | Production | |
Top States | Madhya Pradesh > Rajasthan > Maharashtra > Uttar Pradesh | Madhya Pradesh > Rajasthan > Uttar Pradesh |
(Madhya Pradesh alone accounts for 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: Leguminaceae (sub-family: Papilionaceae)
- Root system: Strong tap root system.
- Photosynthesis: C3 plant, long-day type.
- Flowering: Sensitive to frost at flowering stage.
- Fruit: Pod.
Key Points
- Sour taste of leaves and pods is due to maleic acid (90–96%) and oxalic acid (4–10%).
- Photosynthetic rate falls after flowering due to nodule degeneration.
- Overlap of vegetative and reproductive phases leads to competition between source (leaves) and sink (pods).
Agronomic Practices
Aspect | Details |
Seedbed Preparation | Rough, cloddy seedbed for better aeration. |
Optimum Sowing Time | Mid-October (15th to 20th October). |
Seed Rate | 80–100 kg/ha (normal) |
Sowing Depth | 8–10 cm deep to avoid wilt disease. |
Spacing | 30 cm × 10 cm. |
Critical Irrigation Stages | 1. Pre-flowering |
Yield | 20–25 quintals/ha. |
Management Practices
- Deep sowing protects from wilt disease.
- Delayed planting increases Helicoverpa armigera (pod borer) infestation.
- Nipping and Topping:
- Pruning of top branches at 50–60 DAS to promote reproductive growth.
- Chemical nipping: TIBA (Tri-iodobenzoic acid) @ 75 ppm.
Varieties
Desi Gram Varieties:
Variety | Features |
Pusa-256 (BG-256) | Common variety for rainfed conditions. |
C-235 | Best for dryland; tolerant to Ascochyta blight. |
Avrodhi | Wilt resistant (and similar to JG-74). |
Gaurav | Resistant to Ascochyta blight. |
RS-11 | Mutant variety. |
ICCC-2 | Short duration (early maturing). |
Radhey, H-208, BG-261 | Suitable for late planting. |
Aparna (2006) | Improved short-duration variety. |
Kabuli Gram Varieties:
Variety | Features |
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 pods
- Critical Stages for Irrigation: Pre-flowering & Pod development
- Most drought-resistant pulse crop.
- Late sowing reduces seedling wilt but increases seed rate by 25%.
