High yielding greengram for all seasons

By Our Agriculture Correspondent

SCIENTISTS AT the National Pulses Research Centre of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) at Vamban, Pudukkottai district, have developed a high yielding greengram variety, which is suitable for all the three seasons. It has recently been released for commercial cultivation by the farmers by TNAU under the name ``VBN Gg 2 greengram''.

A derivative of the cross between VGG 4 and MH 309, the new variety has been found to be moderately resistant to yellow mosaic virus disease and pod borer. It matures in 65 to 70 days, and it can be raised in June-July, September-October and February-March seasons. As a rainfed pure crop, it has recorded a high yield of 750 kg per hectare, which is 11 per cent higher than Vamban 1, and 23 per cent higher than CO 6 green gram. The irrigated crop, has an average yield potential of 820 kg per hectare, which is 11.8 per cent higher than Vamban 1 and 14.9 per cent more than CO 6, according to the scientists.

This early-maturing variety grows erect to a height of 50 to 60 cm. The flowers are yellow, and the pods are sparsely hairy with 10 to 12 seeds. The seeds are shiny green, and the 100-seed weight ranges from 3.60 to 3.90 g. On an average, each plant will yield between 25 and 35 pods. This variety is well adapted to all the districts in the State excepting the Nilgiris and Kanyakumari.

A seed rate of 20 kg is recommended to cover a hectare under irrigated conditions, and in the case of rainfed crop, at least 30 kg seeds will be needed to sow a hectare. A spacing of 30 cm between rows and 10 cm within the rows is to be adopted for maintaining an optimum crop stand. The 20 kg of seeds should be pelletised using a mixture of diammonium phosphate (DAP) 800 g, 5 kg gypsum, 3 packets of Rhizobium culture, 3 packets of phosphobacteria, 200 g , 80 g Trichoderma viride and small quantities of maida (as sticking agent).

The seed should be treated with the sticker first followed by a layer of gypsum. Another coating with the sticker should be followed by a layer of powdered DAP. The third coating with the sticker should be followed by Rhizobium and phosphobacteria, and the last layer should be Trichoderma viride. A nutrient dose of 12.5 kg nitrogen, 40 kg phosphorus and 20 kg potash per hectare is recommended for rainfed crop, and 25 kg nitrogen, 50 kg phosphorus and 20 kg potash per hectare is prescribed for the irrigated crop. Application of gypsum at the rate of 110 kg per hectare will be beneficial to crop growth and good pod setting, according to the scientists.

Regular weeding, and plant protection measures using botanical insecticides and integrated plant protection measures will bring rich dividends. The crop should be harvested, when 80 per cent of the plants show signs of maturity. The plants should be stacked for a few days and then threshed.

The grains should be dried well to bring down the moisture content to about 10 per cent. They can be treated with neem oil at a rate of 10 ml per kg of grains to protect them from any pest infestation, according to the scientists.

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