Drought Tolerant Green Gram N26

Attributes

  • Has a determinate growth habit
  • Drought tolerant
  • Shiny green and bold grain
  • Seed rate 4kg per acre
  • Spacing 45cm x 15cm
  • Maturity 60 – 65 days
  • Optimal yield 5 – 7 bags per acre

Target Areas Of Production

N26 is recommended for cultivation in both semi-arid and well-watered areas of between 50-1600m above sea level.

It is suited to well- drained sandy loams and because of its earliness it has proved more successful in the drier areas of lower Machakos, Kitui, Mwingi, Tharaka, Mbeere and Makueni districts.

At elevations of more than 1800m above sea level, it has very poor pod set.

Crop Management

Land preparation:

The field should be well prepared without big soil clods and have a fine filth. Hoe, oxen and tractor can be used for ploughing.

Time of planting:

Early planting is recommended but not before 30mm of rainfall is received. Spatial planting is also recommended.

Method of planting:

When using oxen plough for planting, place the seed at the side of the furrow. Seed rate: 10-15kg/ha (4-6kg/acre)

Number of plants per hill:

Sow at least 2 

Depth of planting:

The depth should be kept at 4-5cm.

Sole cropping spacing:

The distance between rows should be 45cm and between plants 15cm.

Weeding

The first weeding should be done 2 weeks after emergence and the second weeding before flowering.

Bean

Fertilizer

Green gram does not respond well to nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer application. In most cases it is not necessary to apply them. However, where the soils are highly eroded and very deficient in these nutrients, a basal dose of 10-15kg/ha of nitrogen and 20-25kg/ha of single or triple super phosphate fertilizers may be broadcasted.

Crop Protection

Insect pests of economic importance include thrips, aphids, and pod sucking bugs, apion beetle and bruchids.

Apply insecticide at manufactures’ recommended rates.

Diseases

Diseases include powdery mildew and yellow mosaic virus.

Powdery mildew is prevalent during the long rains whereas yellow mosaic occurs in both seasons.

Use Benomyl and Copper oxychloride to control the diseases.

Green Gram

Harvesting

Time of harvesting – Harvest when 95% of the pods have turned black.

When pods do not mature at the same time uproot the entire plant and dry in the sun before threshing.

Storage

The grain should be dried well before storage because grains that are not well dried are prone to weevil attack.

To store, use Hermatic bags or dust the grain with super Actellic (50g per 90 kg bag) or with neem tree leaves or treat with wood-ash (4-6 kg of ash per bag).