AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

PULSES

The following table shows talukawise area under pulses in Satara district in 1956-57:—

TABLE No. 19.

AREA UNDER PULSES (TALUKA-WISE) IN SATARA DISTRICT, 1956-57.

(In acres)

Gram.

Gram (harbara) is an important pulse crop, extensively grown throughout the district. It occupied an area of 38,809 acres 1956-57. It requires good black soil. Generally, it is sown' October as a second crop. The field receives the benefit of previous applications of manure. The land is ploughed to a depth of four to six inches. The seed rate per acre is 40-50 lbs. It is sown with a four-coultered drill at a distance of 10-12 inches except in paddy tract, where it is broadcast in furrows opened up by ploughs. The crop requires careful tillage. This is usually a rabi crop. is common practice to pluck off the lops of the shoots before It flowering time to render them strong and bushy and thus increase the outturn of grain. The crop matures in three months. The yield per acre averages 400-450 lbs., for a dry crop, and 600-700 lbs. for a irrigated crop. The expenditure averages Rs. 40-50, and the income Rs. 90-130, thereby leaving a net margin of Rs. 50-80 per acre.

The plant is used in various ways. Both foliage and green grains are used as vegetable. The grain may be eaten green, boiled or parched. It is used as dal when ripe. Gram is a staple food of horses. A vinegar or oxalic acid called amb is made from the foliage. The dry stalks provide good fodder. The comparative position regarding acreage under and outturn of gram during the period 1938-39 to 1953-54, is given in the following table.

TABLE No. 20.

AREA UNDER AND OUTTURN OF GRAM IN SATARA DISTRICT;

(1938-39 TO 1954-55).

(figures in hundreds)

Matki

Matki is the second important pulse crop grown in the district. Matki occupied the highest acreage under pulses, viz., 48,685 acres, in 1956-57. Its outturn was concentrated in Man and Khatav talukas. Matki is always grown as a kharif crop. It is usually sown in June-July and harvested in November. The crop is taken in Man, Khatav, Koregaon and Khandala talukas on comparatively lighter sandy soil, along with bajra in every fourth or sixth row. The seed rate per acre is 12-15 lbs. and the yield averages 200 250 lbs. It is used as a split pulse and consumed in different ways. It is also eaten parched or boiled whole with condiments. Occasionally, it is given to horses and the cattle. The plants provide good fodder for the cattle.

Black Gram.

Black Gram (udid) occupied an area of 26,826 acres in the district in 1956-57. It is largely grown in Patan and Satara talukas. It is usually sown as a mixed crop with the kharif jowar and bajra in medium black soil. It is harvested in November. The seed rate per acre is 14-15 lbs. in a mixed crop and 40-50 lbs., if taken separately. The yield per acre is 250 lbs. and 450 lbs., respectively. The crop is affected by aphids and red borers. The expenditure averages Rs. 40-50, and the income, Rs. 65-80, thereby leaving a net margin of Rs. 25-30 per acre. The green pod is rarely used as a vegetable, The ripe pulse is split and consumed as dal. It is ground into powder to prepare papads. The stalks and leaves form good fodder for the cattle.

Tur.

Tur is one of the most important pulses grown in the district. It covered an area of 19,90.3 acres in 1956-57, the share of Khatav, Man and Karad talukas being prominent. It is sown in medium black soil mixed with bajra and kharif jowar in every eighth row. The seed rate is 12-15 lbs. and the yield averages 250-300 lbs. per acre. Tur is a hardy crop and resists drought to a remarkable degree. Tur is generally sown in June-July and is ripe for harvest by February-March. It is seldom irrigated, because its roots penetrate deep into the soil and get the necessary moisture, although the upper layers of the soil are dry. Red borer is an important pest of the crop. The expenditure averages Rs. 30-40, and the income, Rs. 50-65, thereby leaving a net income of Rs. 20-25, per acre. The green pods are eaten as a vegetable. The ripe pulse is split and eaten boiled in different preparations. The yellow split pulse is made into a porridge and is sometimes mixed with vegetables. The comparative position regarding acreage under and outturn of the crop during the period 1938-39 to 1954-55, has been set out in the table below:-

TABLE No. 21.

AREA UNDER AND OUTTURN OF TUR IN SATARA DISTRICT. (1938-39 to 1954-55)

Chavli.

Chavli occupied an area of 3,050 acres in the district during 1956-57. Usually, it is grown mixed with bajra and jowar id kharif season. The seed rate per acre is 12-15 lbs. The seed is sown in medium black soil. It is grown throughout the district except in Mahabaleshwar taluka. Khatav taluka has more than one-third of the total acreage under the crop. The yield per acre averages 300 lbs. Chavli serves as a very important leguminous rotational crop. Generally, it is not manured. The green pods are used as a vegetable. They are eaten raw or cooked. The green stalks and leaves form a good fodder for milch cattle.

Vatana.

Vatana, one of the favourite pulses of the district, covered an are of 1,217 acres in the district in 1956-57. It is mainly grown in Wai, Khandala, Mahabaleshwar and Jaoli talukas. It is sown in kharif season in medium black soil with a four-coultered drill. The distance between the rows is 9 or 10 inches. The seed rate per acre averages 40-45 lbs., and the yield per acre, 300-400 lbs. It is sown in June-July and harvested from October to December. The pulse is used split or whole and cooked in various ways. The crop is mostly grown for its green pods which realise well. The expenditure averages Rs. 55-75, and the income, Rs. 125-350, thereby leaving a net margin of Rs. 70-275 per acre.

Wal.

Wal occupied an area of 1,419 acres in the district in 1956-57. is mainly grown in Man, Wai, Jaoli and Karad talukas. It usually a rabi crop. It is a second crop in the rice fields and sown immediately after the harvest. Sometimes it is sown in June-July in rows mixed with bajra or early jowar and harvested after about four months in October-November. It is taken in medium black and red loamy soil. The wal seeds are somewhat bitter and smaller and are used as dal. The husks and broken bits of the dal are a valuable concentrate for milch cattle. The leaves and stalks are utilised as fodder.

Horse Gram.

Horse Gram (hulge, kulith or kulthi) is also grown in the district. It covered an area of 14,700 acres in 1955-56. It is grown almost throughout the district as a kharif crop on light reddish and medium black soil mixed with bajra and kharif jowar in every fourth or sixth row. A four-coultered drill is used, the seed rate per acre being 12-14 lbs. The yield per acre averages 200-250 lbs. The crop is ready for harvest in November. It is either black or dark brown. It does not require much water or manure. The green crop is used as fodder for the cattle and sheep.

Mug.

Mug, mainly grown in the eastern part of the district, occupied an area of 9,900 acres in 1955-56. Usually, it is sown as a mixed crop with kharif jowar and bajra in every fourth or sixth row. It is taken on medium black soil. It is also grown as an individual crop in kharif season. The seed rate per acre is 14-16 lbs., when taken with some other crop, and varies between 40 lbs. and 50 lbs., when taken as an individual crop. The yield per acre averages 200-250 lbs. and 400-500 lbs., respectively. Mug, like other pulses can be eaten green, as a vegetable, and, as split dal, when ripe.

TABLE No. 22.

AREA UNDER OIL-SEEDS (TALUKA-WISE) IN SATARA DISTRICT, 1956-57.

(In acres).

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