It is a generally used as green manure crop. It can be grown on all season having sufficient moisture in soil. It not only improve physical properties but also helps in meeting nitrogen requirement of succeeding crop.

It can be grown on all type of soil. It gives best results when grow in sandy loam to loamy soils.

Punjab Dhaincha 1: Bold seeded variety having quick growth. It has comparatively more nodules. Its average grain yield is 3-4 quintals per acre.  It takes about 150 days to mature.

Other state varieties:

CSD 137: It is tolerant to sodic, saline and water-logged sodic soils. Ready to harvest in 140 days. Under salt affected soil, gives average yield of 133 qtl/acre.

CSD 123: It give high level of tolerance to sodic, saline and water-logged sodic soils. Ready to harvest in 120 days. Under salt affected soil conditions gives average yield of 112 qtl/acre.

Ploughed land thoroughly before monsoon to bring soil to fine tilth. After ploughing, make soil weed and stubble free. Then levelled soil properly. Add 3-4 ton/acre of well decomposed cow dung at time of field preparation.

Time of sowing
Optimum time for sowing for green manure purpose is from April - July whereas for seed purpose optimum time for sowing is from Mid-June to Mid-July.

Spacing
For manuring purpose, use row spacing of 20-22.5cm and for seed purpose use spacing of 45x20 cm.  

Sowing Depth
Sowing depth should be 3-4 cm.

Method of sowing
For sowing use seed drill method.

Seed Rate
For green manure crop sow 20 kg seed/acre. For grain production, use 8 to 10 kg seeds per acre.

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Apply P@12kg/acre in form of Superphosphate@75kg/acre at time of sowing. If phosphorus dose is already given in previous crop then avoid phophorus application.

When it is grown for grain purpose, give one hoeing one month after sowing.

If crop is grown for green manure purpose, in summer period, three to four irrigation are required. When it is grown for grain purpose, avoid water stress at flower initiations and grain development stage.

• Pest and their control:

Tobacco caterpillar: Larva feed on the leaves and damage the crop. If infestation is observed, then spray crop with Novaluron 10 EC@150 ml/ 80-100 Ltrs of water per acre.

For green manure purpose buried crop in soil when crop is of 40-60 days old. For grain purpose crop is ready to harvest from mid-October to early November depending upon the sowing period.

1.Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana

2.Department of Agriculture

3.Indian Agricultural Research Instittute, New Delhi

4.Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research

5.Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare