Soil and land preparation

• Grown as rainfed crop on residual soil moisture.
• Stubble and debris should be removed from previous crop.
• Field prepared immediately after harvest of rainy season crop.
• One deep ploughing (25-30 cm) followed by 2-3 harrowing and a heavy planking to conserve soil moisture.

Seed selection and treatment

• Seed treated with Thiram @ 2.5g/kg of seed.
• Inoculate with efficient rhizobial strain ( loti).

Sowing time

• Terai and inner terai: Mid Oct. to Mid Nov.

Sowing method

1. Broadcasting
2. Drill in furrow behind the plough
3. Line sowing:

• Desi type: 30×10 cm
• Kabuli type: 45×10 cm.

Sowing depth

• Rainfed: 7-8 cm
• Irrigated: 5-7 cm.
• Sowing deeper than 8 cm is detrimental for nodulation.

Seed rate

• Rainfed: 33 plants/m²
• Irrigated: 55 plants/m².
• Small seeded (<20g/100-seed): 40-50 kg/ha
• Medium seeded (20-30g/100-seed): 50-60 kg/ha
• Large seeded (30-40g/100-seed): 80-100 kg/ha