AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

PULSES

Pulses occupy an important position in the agrarian economy of the district. A variety of pulses are grown in the district, some of the more important being gram, green-gram, arhar, black gram and masur. The pulses occupied an area of 89,521 hectaes of land in 1961-62 as against 1,11,206 hectares during 1971-72. The percentage of gross cropped area in the district in the case of pulses in 1961 was 11.32 as against 13.64 for the year 1971-72. Washim tahsil during the same period had the largest proportion of acreage i. e., 17.83 per cent under pulses. The average annual production in hundred tonnes per year during 1951 and 1956, and 1956 and 1960 was put at 461 and 374 as compared to the figures for total food grains which stood at 2.370 and 2,027 respectively. The following table gives the area under important pulses in the district.

TABLE No. 12

Outturn of Pulses in Akola District in 1961-62, 1965-66, 1970-71 and 1971-72

(Figures in hectares')

*Only important pulses are given.

The following table shows the outturn of the pulses in the district for the years 1961-62, 1965-66, 1970-71, and 1971-72.

TABLE No. 13

Outturn of Pulses in Akola District in 1961-62, 1965-66, 1970 71 and 1975-72

(Figures in M-Tonnes)

Tur : Tur, (pigeon pea,) is the most important pulse crop in the district. It covered an area of 30,606 hectares in 1961-62 as against 35,769 hectares in 1971-72. !n 1971-72 Washim tahsil claimed the highest area i.e., 11,541 as against the lowest acreage of 3,596 hectares in Akot tahsil during the same war.

Tur is always sown as a mixed crop in rows at regular intervals with cotton, jowar and groundnut crops. It is sown in the month of July and harvested in January. It is generally grown on all types of soils ranging from heavy to light. The general tillage required for other crops is also given to it. The crop is kharif-seasonal and requires about 20" to 30" rainfall. I! requires warm and moist climate. Generally,5 cart loads of field yard manure per acre is given. Usually 20 1bs. of seed in case of pure crop and 4 lbs. in case of mixed crop per acre arc drilled. The crop is ready for harvest in about 190 to 210 days and it yields 100 lbs. per acre in case of pure crop and 400 lbs in case of mixed crop Harvesting is done by cutting the plants after all the pods get ripened and then threshing them

The green pods of tur are used to prepare vegetables while ripe pulse is split and boiled for making curry. The stalks are used for making baskets, and brooms and for thatching roofs of hutments The dried leaves of the plants after being separated from the grains serve as good chaff.

Gram : Gram (harbhara or chana) covered an area of 13,901 hectares in 1961-62 as against 10,833 hectares in 1971-72. Akot tahsil of the district accounted for the highest area of 4,507 Hectares in 1961-62 as compared to the 3,847 in 1971-72. The lowest acreage of 304 hectares was claimed by the Mangrulpir tahsil in 1971-72. The rate of outturn was 5,596 M. tonnes in 1961-62 as compared to 3,000 M. tonnes in 1971-72.

This crop is always grown as a rabi crop after the kharif jowar, mug groundnut or bajri. Sowing is done in the month of October whereas harvesting follows in January-February. Chaffa an improved variety of gram with yellowish colour gives a higher yield. Cloudy weather and severe cold is harmful to this crop. Generally 5 to 6 cart loads of field yard manure is given in addition to 10 lbs. of N₂ and 20 lbs. P₂O₅ per acre. The seed is sown at the rate of 20 lbs. in ease of pure crop and 4 lbs. in case of mixed crop. The crop is ready for harvest within 100 to 115 days. Under ideal conditions the yield per acre comes to about 400 lbs.

Harvesting is done by cutting the ripe plants. They are stacked for about a week, dried and trampled under the feet of bullocks to separate the seed. The green pods are eaten either raw or after baking. The gram dal is used in various food preparations. It also serves as horse food. The green gram plants yield a kind of vinegar (amb) which is collected by spreading a cloth on the plant top during the night. Early in the morning the vinegar is squeezed out of it. The juice has medicinal properties.

Black gram : Udid, black gram is grown almost all over the district. It is a crop mixed with kharif jowar and bajri. The area under this pulse in 1961-62 was 30256 hectares, out of which Washim tahsil claimed nearly 16350 hectares. In 1971-72 the area under this pulse crop was 39263 hectares in the district.

The seeds are sown in the months of June-July and the crop is harvested by the end of September. The seed rate is 12 to 15 lbs. in the case of pure crop and 4 lbs. in the case of mixed crop per acre. The yield per acre comes to about 300 to 400 lbs. Harvesting is done either by picking the ripe pods or by uprooting the plants. The pods are then thrashed and grains are separated. The plants alter being uprooted are dried and trampled under the feel of bullocks. Stalks and chaff are used as fodder to the cattle.

Udid pulse is split and is used in various preparations. The people in the rural areas mix udid flour with jowar Hour for preparation of bread. The pulse is valued as a good food for milch-buffaloes, cows etc.

Green gram : Mug, green gram, is also another important crop in the district. It covered an area of 8431 hectares in 1961-62 as against 20751 hectares in 1971-72. Washim and Balapur tahsils were the main mug producing tahsils of the-district.

The crop is produced as a kharif crop and is sown in July. When it is taken as a single crop 15 lbs. seed per acre is sown. as against 4 lbs. if taken as a mixed crop with jowar. It takes about 60 to 70 days to mature. After the mug crop is taken in kharif season, a second crop of wheat is taken in the same field. if the crop is taken as a single crop it yields between 900 and 1,000 lbs. per acre as against 300 and 400 lbs. in ease of mixed crop.

The field is prepared by ploughing and harrowing. The sowing is done by a three coultered drill. For an acre 12 lbs. of seed are used. In the month of September when the crop is ready for harvesting, either the ripe pods are picked or pod bearing plants are cut. These are stacked at the threshing floor and are thrashed by trampling under the feet of bullocks.

The green pods are eaten raw, whereas the ripe pulse is used for curries and other various preparations.

Other Pulses: In addition to the above mentioned important pulses, other pulses such as chawali, mot, watana are grown in the district. In 1967-68, the area under chawali and mot was 690 and 990 hectares, respectively. These pulses arc grown in the kharif season i.e., seeds are sown in the months of June-July and the crop is harvested in October-November.

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