CHICKPEA (BENGALGRAM)
Compiled by: Dr. Ramyajit Mondal
Assistant Professor in Agronomy, School of Agriculture, Seacom Skills University,
Kendradangal, Birbhum, West Bengal, PIN-731 236
Chickpea is largest produced food legume in South Asia and third largest legume crop of the
world. In India, chickpea occupies highest area and production among allpulses followed by
pigeonpca and greengram. Among all rabi pulses grown in India, chickpea ranks 1t in area and
production followed by lentil.
K a b u t i Desi
Botanical Name: Cicer arietinum L. Family: Leguminoseae Chromosome No. 2n=14. 16
Origin: South West Asia (Afganistan and Persia)
Synonyms: Bengalgram, Chana, Chola, Chole, Garbanzo, Pois, Hoos etc.
The word 'Cicer' derived from a Greek word 'Kiros' refering to well known Roman family
Cicero' and 'arietinum' derives from Latin word 'aries' meaning 'ram' (male sheep)
because of the ram's head shape of the kabuli chickpea.
Chickea is self pollinated, C; and long day plant having indeterminate growth habit and hypogeal
type of germination.
Economicimportance:
Chickpea seeds contain on average 18-22% protein (21.1% mostly), 52-70% total
carbohydrates, 4.5% fat, 6% crude fiber and 39% ash. Seeds are rich in mineral content as
phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc. Leaves of the plant contain malic acid (90
96%) and oxalic acid (4-10%), which are very useful for stomach ailments. Chickpea is best
blood purifier. It is used for human consumption as well as for feeding to animals. Chickpea is
mostly consumed in the form of processed whole seed or dal or as dal flour (Besan). Stover of
gram is an excellent fodder for cattle. Chickpea flour is used for preparation of number of sweets
and recipes.
Classification:
Character Desi or Brown gram Kabuli or white gram
Botanical name Cicer arietinum Cicer kabulium
Color of the seed Yellow to dark brown Usually white
Seed size SImall Bold and attractive
Plants Small with good branching Generally taller than deshi
ability gram and plant less erect
Yield potential High as compared to Kabuli Low as compared to deshi
Geographical distribution:
The important gram growing countries are India, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Burma and Turkey. India
ranks first in the world in respect of area and production followed by Pakistan. Gram occupies
about 38 per cent of area under pulses and contributes about 50 per cent of the total pulse
production of India.
In India, the major gram producing areas are Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh,
Haryana, Maharashtra, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Bihar. Among the states, MP ranked I" in
area and production.
Botany:
Cicer arietinum is a short annual herb, attaining a height of less than 60 cm. Average
height 30 to 45 cm.
The plant surface including roots, stem, leaves and pods are pubescent, covered with
glandular and non-glandular hairs. The glandular hairs secrete a mixture of acids
containing malic, Oxalic and citric acids.
Leaves are pinnately compound. There are 9 to 15 pairs of hairy leaflets per leaf, opposite
or alternate. The leaflets are mild oval in shape with serrated margins.
Corola
Standard.
ChcAyea Wing l
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The root system is characterized by a thick strong tap root with numerous lateral roots
developing into a robust at like structure.
The inflorescence is a single papilionaceous flower. The flower can be described as
regular, with five fused petals in a typical papilionaceous arrangement with a big
standard, two wings and two keel petals which form a boat shape. Flower colour varies
from purple, pink, light blue and white.
The pod size is generally in the range of 15-20 mm and may go up to 30 mm depending
on the gecnotype, especially in kabuli types. Each pod contains generally one to two seeds
and rarely three.
Climate:
It's a winter season crop. But frost at the time of flowering results in the failure of the flowers to
develop seeds. It is best suited to areas having moderate rainfall of 60-90 cm per annum. It is a
long day plant. The average air temp varies from 22-25°C. Ideal/optimum temperature for overall
growth and development 15 to 25°C.
Soil Type &Field Preparation:
It can be grown in coarse-textured sandy loam to clay loam soil. However, the best suited soils
are well drained, deep loams or silty clay loams with a pH ranging from 6.0 to 7.5. The field
should have loose tilth and good drainage. The stubble and debris from the previous crop should
be removed as these can harbour the pathogens that cause root diseases, such as collar rot.
Chickpea is more sensitive to aeration. Field preparation for sowing chickpea is based on the soil
type and cropping system. In case ofa heavy soil, a rough seedbed is prepared to avoid packing
of the cloddy surface due to winter rains and to facilitate soil aeration and easy seedling
emergence. One deep ploughing followed by 2 harrowing and planking or laddering. The soil
should be well drained and levelled and weed free.
Sowing time:
First fortnight of October or second fortnight of October to first week of November., Excessive
early sowing causes profuse vegetative growth which in turn reduces grain formation and yield.
Early sowing promotes wilt attack. Late sowing (December-January) should be avoided as the
late-sown crop may experience moisture stress and high temperatures at the critical stage of pod
filling, leading to reduced yield and seed quality.
Seed rate:
75 -100 kg/ha, Depth of sowing 8 to 10 cm. Shallow sowing increases the chances of wilt
attack. Spacing - 30 cm x 10 cm
Seed treatment: Strictly follow FIR seed treatment with (fungicide, insecticide and rhizobium).
Seeds should be treated with 2 g Thiram + lg Carbendazim or Carboxin(vitavex) 2 g/kg to
control wilt & root rot.
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Fertilizer management:
[Link] N, P:Os and K;0 for rainfed crop. [Link] for irrigated variety. General
recommendation: 20: 40-60: 40 (N:P:K). Though potassium fertilizer do not have any significant
role in chickpea cultivation. But applicationof K in Kdeficient soil is good for growth. Entire
quantity of fertilizers should be drilled3 to 4 cm deep in furrows before sowing. Application of
sulphur @ 20 kg/ha is found beneficial if the soils are deficient in sulphur. DAP can be applied
@ 100-150 kg/ha instead of SSP.
Irrigation management:
Chickpea is mostly sown as a rainfed crop. However, where irrigation facilities are available,
give a pre-sowing irigation. Two irrigations, one at pre-flowering and one at pod formation
stage are beneficial. Excess of irrigation enhances vegetative growth and depresses yield.
$ Application of KCI (Potassium chloride) helps to conserve moisture in chickpea.
Weed managenment:
2hand weeding at 25 to 30 DAS and at 60 DAS. Application of Fluchloralin (Basalin) @ 1 kg
a.i/ ha as pre plant incorporation +1 hand weeding at 60 DAS are effective also.
Nipping:
Itis the process of plucking the apical buds of the crop at 35-45 DAS, it stops the apical growth
and promotes the lateral branching. Thus, the plants become more vigorous and produce more
flower and pod which increase the yield of crop. Nipping is also termed as Topping.
After nipping, pruning of top branches of the plant to ensure reproductive growth should be done
at 50-60 DAS. This is mainly done manually or by a flock of sheep.
Chemical for Pruning: TIBA(2,3,5- tri-iodo benzoic acid) @75 ppm spray.
Harvesting and Yield:
Crop becomes ready for harvest when leaves turn reddish brown in colour and start shedding.
Plants are either pluck out by hand or cut with sickle. The plants allow drying under sunlight on
threshing floor for about 5 to 6 days. Thereafter, threshing is done either by beating the plants
with sticks or by trampling under the bullock feet.
Average yield: 15 to 20 quintal/ha. But it may goes upto 20 to 25 quintal/ha with proper
management and care.
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Important Variety:
Category Variety name
Wilt resistant Avarodhi, Pusa 244
Pusa 256, Gaurav
Ascochyta blight resistant
Suitable for late sowing Uday, Radhe
Mahamaya 2
Both early and late sowing
C235
Suitable for dry land area
PBG 3
Pod borer resisrant
Vishal, Anubhav
Suitable for rainfed areas
Phule G 5, Pusa 256, DigVijay
Bold seeded
Karnal Chana 1
Salt tolerant
PBG 1, Udai
Short duration
Mahamaya-1, Mahamaya-2,
Some important Variety Anuradha, Jaki- 9218
Kabuli Chickpea variety: Phule G 0517, JGK 3
Disease:
(Soil borne disease; prevalent in Central
1) Chickpea Wilt: Fusarium oxysporum var. ciceri ultimately decomposed.
zone of India). Due to this root turns black, plants wilted and
treatment or use resistant
Management: Crop rotation, roughing, avoid early sowing, seed
variety.
Wilt symptom
Fusarium wilt Ascochyta Bllght
Dry root rot
Rust
2) Ascochyta blight: Ascochyta rabiei (Seed borne disease). Serious disease in North-West
India. Due to this all plant parts are affected except roots. Brown spots visible in leaves
and pods.
3) Sclerotinia blight (Stem rot): Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Soil borne). Excessive moisture
and dense crop canopy favours the disease attack.
4) Botrytis Gray Mould: Botrvtis cinerea (Most prevalent in Tarai areas). Cold weather
with high humidity favours the disease attack.
Insect:
Gram Pod Borer: Helicoverpa armigera (most limiting factor in chickpea cultivation).
It may cause 75% of yield reduction.
> Gram Cut Worm: Agrotis ipsilon(Serious pest in North India). Nocturnal in habit.
Gram Semi-looper: Autographa nigrisigna (Serious in North India). Feed in bud,
flowers and pods.
Figure: Gram Pod Borer damage on Chickpea
Points to be remember:
AICRP (AIl India coordinated Research Project on Chickpea started in 1993.
About 4to 4.5S kg of malic and oxalic acids can be obtained from I ha chickpea crop.
