Climatic Requirement

Pulses are grown under a wide range of climatic conditions, but they generally thrive in warm, semi-arid to sub-tropical regions. These crops require moderate rainfall (about 400–700 mm annually) and well-drained soils. Pulses prefer cool weather during their vegetative growth and slightly warmer temperatures during flowering and maturity. Excessive rainfall or waterlogging can harm pulse crops, while dry spells during flowering can reduce yield. Rabi pulses like chickpea and lentil are grown in cooler months, whereas kharif pulses like pigeon pea and moong bean are suited to the monsoon season. Overall, pulses are well-adapted to rainfed and resource-poor farming conditions.

Soils

Pulses are adaptable to a variety of soil types, but they perform best in well-drained, loamy to sandy loam soils with good fertility and moderate organic content. Different pulses have specific soil preferences—for instance, black gram and green gram grow well in alluvial and loamy soils, while chickpea prefers well-drained sandy loam or clay loam soils with neutral to slightly alkaline pH. Pulses do not tolerate waterlogging, so proper drainage is essential. They are often grown in marginal and low-fertility soils, making them suitable for rainfed and resource-constrained regions across India.

Sowing Time & Methods

Pulses are mainly grown during the kharif (June to July) and rabi (October to November) seasons, depending on the type of pulse and regional climate. Common pulses like chickpea, lentil, and pigeon pea are sown using either the broadcasting method or the line sowing method, with line sowing being preferred for better crop management and yield. Seeds are sown at proper depth and spacing in well-prepared, moderately fertile, well-drained loamy soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Pulses require minimal irrigation and are often grown in rainfed conditions, making them suitable for dry and semi-arid regions.

Growing States

The main regions with high productivity are Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, delta region of West Bengal, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, coastal and eastern Karnataka and some parts of Maharashtra.

Pulses are grown in all three seasons. The three crop seasons for the commodity are:

• Kharif: Arhar (Tur), Urd (Blackgram), Moong (Greengram), Lobia (Cowpea), Kulthi(Horsegram) and Moth
• Rabi: Gram, Lentil, Pea, Lathyrus and Rajmash
• Summer: Greengram, Blackgram and Cowpea

Varieties

India grows a wide range of pulses to suit different agro-climatic regions. Major pulses include chickpea (gram), pigeon pea (arhar or tur), lentil (masoor), black gram (urad), green gram (moong), and kidney beans (rajma). Popular chickpea varieties include Kabuli and Desi types like Pusa 362 and JG 11. For pigeon pea, varieties such as BSMR 736 and ICPL 87119 are widely grown. Moong varieties like Pusa Vishal and SML 668, and urad varieties such as T-9 and PU-31, are known for their short duration and high yield.

Improved and disease-resistant pulse varieties are regularly developed by agricultural research institutions to enhance productivity and adaptability across diverse growing conditions.

Irrigation/Water Management

Pulses are mostly cultivated under rainfed conditions and do not require intensive irrigation facility, and this is the reason why pulses are grown in areas left after satisfying the demand for cereals/cash crops. Even in such conditions, pulses give better returns. Apart from this, pulses possess several other qualities such as they are rich in protein, improve soil fertility and physical structure, fit in mixed/inter-cropping system, crop rotations and dry farming and provide green pods for vegetable and nutritious fodder for cattle as well.

Weed Control

Weed control is crucial in pulse cultivation as weeds compete for nutrients, moisture, and sunlight, leading to reduced yields. Common weeds in pulse fields include Chenopodium album (lambs quarters), Amaranthus viridis (green amaranth), Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass), and Cyperus rotundus (nutgrass). Both manual and chemical methods are used for weed management. Pre-emergence herbicides like pendimethalin (1.0–1.5 kg/ha) are effective in controlling a broad spectrum of weeds when applied within 2–3 days of sowing. For post-emergence weed control, herbicides like imazethapyr (75–100 g/ha) can be used after 2–3 weeks of sowing. Timely weeding ensures better crop growth, reduces competition, and improves yield.