Introduction to major field crops (1+1)

Water Management

Gram is mainly grown under rainfed conditions. It has a deep tap root system and can make an efficient use of the profile-stored water. Although water requirements of the gram are relatively low, it often suffers from periodic water deficits owing to low and uncertain rains in the rabi season. Supplemental irrigation to release the crop from soil moisture stress at critical stages of crop growth has been found to result in substantial yield increases in gram. The late flowering and pod setting stages appear to be the most sensitive to soil moisture stress.

The care in irrigation is needed because of the high sensitivity of gram to lack of soil aeration. Proper land leveling and the use of ridges or narrow flat beds for the purpose of uniform distribution of irrigation water and avoiding water logging is required for optimum plant growth and development and for getting higher yields of gram.