BLACK GRAM

Welcome to DesiKheti's Black Gram Seeds Collection!

At DesiKheti, we understand the importance of quality seeds for a successful harvest. That's why we have curated a diverse collection of black gram seeds from top brands to meet your farming needs.

Buy Black Gram Seeds from various brands at DesiKheti:

Buy NRI Seeds Black Gram Seeds Online

Buy National Bio Seeds Corporation (NBSC) Black Gram Seeds Online

Buy Sri Hyco Hybrid Seeds Black Gram Seeds Online

Buy Sri Keerthi Seeds Black Gram Seeds Online

Black gram is a small, oval legume. Black gram is scientifically known as Vigna mungo and belongs to the Fabaceae family. Black gram is also known as Minumulu and Ulundu in other Indian languages. Black gram is widely used in cooking, especially in South Asia. Various dishes are prepared using Urad dal in Indian cooking. The dehusked Black gram seeds can be soaked and ground into a fine batter to prepare dosa and idli, staples in South Indian cuisine. The boiled Urad bean is added to salads, curries, and soups. 

Black gram is highly nutritious. Black gram is a good source of plant-based proteins. This makes Black gram perfect for vegetarians and vegans. Besides protein content, Black gram is rich in dietary fibre, which promotes digestion and gut health. Blackgram seeds are rich in many essential vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin B, iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

Climate for Black Gram cultivation

Black gram crops prefer hot and humid temperatures for better growth. The ideal temperature requirement for the growth of Urad bean plants is 25°C to 35°C. Black gram cannot tolerate temperatures above 42 °C.

Black gram plants prefer full sunlight. About 6-8 hours of direct sunlight is necessary for the proper development of Black gram flowers and pods to obtain higher yields.

Soil for Black Gram Farming

Black gram grows in a wide range of soils, from light to heavy soils. Black gram plants do not grow well in Highly saline or alkaline soils. However, Urad bean grows best in well-drained, loamy soils.

The optimal soil PH for the growth of Black gram plants is in the range of 5.5 to 7.5. Soil fertility and good drainage are crucial for healthy growth.

Land Preparation for Sowing Black Gram Seeds

Land must be ploughed to a depth of 15-20 cm. After ploughing, the field should be harrowed to break down bigger clods and make finer seed beds for Blackgram sowing. Apply around 250 kg/ha of FYM.  

In cases where the waterlogging of the soil is prevalent, preparation of raised beds or ridges at about 1-meter spacing will ensure improved drainage and avoid potential root rot in Blackgram plants.

Black Gram Seeds and Propagation Material

Selection of a Black Gram Variety:  Selecting the right Black gram Variety is a crucial step for successful Black gram farming. The selection of a Black gram Variety depends on various factors such as Disease incidence, Climate, Market preference, etc.

Procuring Quality Black Gram Seeds: Farmers need to procure quality black gram seeds.  At DesiKheti, farmers can find a wide assortment of high-quality black gram seeds, which can be delivered directly to their doorsteps.

Black Gram Seed Rate: The seed rate for black gram is generally 8 to 10 kg per acre.

Black Gram Seed Treatment: Black gram seed treatment is another critical activity before planting. Generally, the black gram seeds sold by private companies are pre-treated with chemicals. However, if the urad seeds are not pre-treated, they should be treated with carbendazim at 2g per kg of urad seeds.

Time of Sowing Black Gram Seeds

  • Kharif Season: June to July are suitable months for sowing Black garm seeds.
  • Rabi Season: Black gram seeds are sown in October to November months
  • Summer Season: Black gram seeds can be sown from February to April months. 

The exact sowing time varies based on the Climate, region and other factors.

Method of Sowing Black Gram Seeds

Black gram seeds can be sown by various methods such as broadcasting, dibbling, or using seed drills. The depth at which the Urad dal seeds are sown is around 3 to 5 cm. This depends on the type of soil and moisture content. In Kharif, the sowing of Black gram seeds can be done at a spacing of 30 to 45 cm between the rows and 10 cm between the plants.

In Rabi season, if the Urad seeds are sown in a Rice fallow system, then the spacing followed is 30 cm between the rows and 15 cm between plants. In the summer season, spacing between the plants should be kept around 5 to 8 cm while sowing Urad dal seeds.   

Nutrient Management in Black Gram cultivation

Nutrient requirements vary based on soil conditions, the method of sowing, etc. Generally, fertiliser recommendations for Blackgram are 12.5 kg/ha Nitrogen, 25 kg/ha Phosphorus and 12.5 kg/ha Potassium. The entire quantity of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium is applied as a basal dose during the land preparation. 20 kg/ha Sulphur can also be applied to Urad bean Plants.

Irrigation Management in Black Gram Farming

Black gram is mainly grown as a rainfed crop, but irrigation can be provided depending on the season and water availability. In the Kharif season, regular irrigation is usually not necessary if there is enough rainfall. However, in the summer season, Black gram crops can be irrigated to avoid drought stress.

Initially, irrigate immediately after sowing Urad dal seeds, followed by another irrigation on the third day. Later on, irrigations can be given at intervals of 7 to 10 days.

It is necessary to give irrigation during Black gram plant flowering and pod development stages as this helps in improving the yield. Waterlogging can cause root rot in Urad bean Plants. Therefore, it is essential to maintain proper drainage.

Weed Management in Black Gram Cultivation

If herbicides are not used, two-hand weedings can be carried out on Urad Bean Farm. The first weeding can be done 15 days after sowing Urad dal seeds and another 30 days after sowing Urad seeds. However, if herbicides are applied, a single hand weeding can be done 30 days after sowing Urad seeds.

Pest and Disease Management in Black Gram cultivation

Common Pests of Black Gram

Pod bug (Clavigrella gibbosa)

  • Nymphs and adults primarily feed on the sap of leaves, flower buds, stems, and pods of Urad bean plants, causing significant harm to the crop.
  • The most severe damage is observed in green pods before Urad bean crop maturity. Affected pods develop pale yellow patches and, in severe cases, shrivel up.
  • Black gram seeds inside the damaged pods become small, shrivelled, and poorly developed, leading to substantial yield losses.

Spotted pod borer (Maruca testulalis)

  • The larvae damage buds, flowers, and pods of Black gram plants by boring into them.
  • Infected Black gram flowers and pods are often webbed together.
  • Larvae feed on Urad bean seeds within the pods, causing significant grain loss. The larva also consumes developing Black gram flowers.

Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci)

  • Nymphs and adults feed on the sap of the Black gram plant, weakening its vitality.
  • Yellowing of the Black gram leaves is one of the first signs of the damage caused.
  • Severe attacks can result in the development of sooty mold on the Black gram plant.
  • As the infestation progresses, the Urad bean plant's overall health declines, leading to reduced growth. In extreme cases, the plant may die due to the damage.
  • In addition to feeding on the Urad bean plant, nymphs and adults also transmit the yellow mosaic virus.

Common Diseases of Black Gram

Yellow mosaic (yellow mosaic virus)

  • The disease begins with small yellow patches or spots appearing on young Black gram leaves.
  • As the infection spreads, the yellow mosaic spots grow larger and eventually cause full yellowing of Black gram leaves.
  • Infected Urad bean leaves develop necrotic symptoms along with yellowing.
  • Plants infected early in their growth cycle tend to mature late and produce fewer Urad bean flowers and pods. The pods that do develop are typically small and distorted.
  • Early infection can cause plant death before seed formation.
  • This virus is transmitted by the whitefly.

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe polygoni)

  • Initially, Small, irregular, powdery spots appear on the upper surface of the Black gram leaves.
  • These spots gradually enlarge and form circular patterns, eventually covering both the upper and lower surfaces of the Black gram leaves.
  • In severe cases, the entire Black gram leaf surface is coated with a whitish, powdery growth.
  • The infected Urad bean leaves turn yellow and fall off prematurely, leading to defoliation.
  • The powdery spots spread to the Urad bean plant stems, petioles, and pods, causing the plant to take on a greyish-white appearance.
  • Affected Black gram pods become small, malformed, and poorly filled, impacting overall seed quality.

Cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora canescens)

  • Initially, Small, circular spots with a greyish centre and reddish-brown edges appear on the leaves of a Black gram.
  • A powdery fungal growth is often visible at the centre of these spots.
  • As the infection progresses, these spots increase in size and merge together, forming larger, irregular brown lesions.
  • The disease causes severe defoliation, particularly during the Urad bean plant flowering and pod formation stages.

Harvesting of Black Gram Pods

Black gram can be harvested when 70-80% of the pods are mature. Harvesting too late may cause the black gram pods to shatter. Harvesting can be done either by picking the mature pods or uprooting the whole urad bean plant, followed by drying and processing.

After harvesting, the urad bean crop should be left to dry for a few days before threshing. After threshing, the black gram seeds are sun-dried for 3-4 days and then stored.

Black Gram Yield

The yield varies based on the Black gram seed variety and other farm management practices. Generally, 800 to 1200 kg of Black gram yield can be obtained per acre with hybrid varieties.