Cultivation of Cluster bean

Origin: The origin of cluster bean, Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L. is not known. It was found to be indeginous to India, Africa, Sikkim, Peru and Java.

Botany: it is a bush type herbaceous, annual, some varieties have single stem and some varieties produce branches, which need more wider spacing in cultivation. Pods are borne in clusters.

Importance: It is grown for green vegetable and also as a forage crop. It is also used as a green manuring crops. Orven and flour used in paper and textile industry.

Climate: It is a warm season crop and grows well in summer and fairy seasons in the plains. It is both hardly and drought resistant. Hence survives well in the tropical plains. Some varieties are season bound and do well in a particular season. For example pusa mausami. This variety is suitable for growing only as rainy season crop.

Soils: It is adopted to all types of soils, but thrives best in well-drained sandy loam soils.

Sowing seasons: The crop is generally sown twice, in spring and in the rainy season all over the plains.

Spring crops : January – February (Southern plains)

February – March (Northern plains)

Seed Rate: 14-20 kg/ha

The seeds may be dibbled at the rate of 2 to 3 per hills ro drilled.

Spacing: 45 x 30 cm in the case of branching types and

30 x 15 cm in the case erect growing non-branching types.

Varieties: Recommended by IARI, New Delhi.

Pusa sadabahar: A selection from a local strain “Jaipuri” of Rajasthan. A variety with single stem suitable fro both summer and rainy season. Pods Green 12-13 cm long.

Pusa Mausami: A selection from local strain. It is a branched variety suitable for rainy season. Pods bright green 10 to 15 cm long.

Pusa Noubahar: A variety with pod quality similar to that of Pusa Mausami and the growing habit similar to Pusa sadabahar. Suitable for both the seasons. the pods are tender lose fibrous andhave better acceptance in the market.

Manuring: 12 tonnes of FYM/ha

17 kg of N/ha

70 kg of P2O5/ha

35 kg of K2O/ha

FYM is applied at the time of field preparation and incorporated with the soil. The whole of N, P and K may be applied before sowing as the crop is short duration (2½ - months). The varieties like Pusa Naubahar starts flowering within 40 days of sowing and the pods can be picked from 45-50 days and it is competed within another 20-25 days.

Harvesting: Tender, Non-fibrous pods are harvested for vegetable purpose. Yield: 60 to 80 q/ha.