Red gram (Cajanus Cajan) Seed Production - Efresh India

Red Gram (Cajanus Cajan) Seed Production 

Red gram (Cajanus Cajan) Seed Production 

The seed material is an important item in any production of agricultural commodities. Farmers 

generally purchase seed from co farmers or from dealers in the market for raising crops. 

Production of crops by farmers is for their own use and what ever is extra over and above their 

own consumption will be sold to others or in the market. 

1.0 Seed Production: 

Soil Requirement: 

Red sandy loam soils or well drained black soils are suitable. Saline, saline alkaline and soils 

prone for inundation during crop period are not suitable. Where ever commercial crop of red gram 

is possible to produce well, such areas are also suitable to produce seed, provided isolation is 

taken care of and land must be free from volunteer red gram plants. 

Isolation requirement: 

Red gram is classified as often cross pollinated (self and cross pollinated) crop. Anthers 

burst before flower opening. Cross fertilisation with insects like bees etc also take place. 

Isolation requirement for foundation seed: 250 metres 

Certified seed: 100 m is required from fields of other red gram varieties and of the same 

variety not confirming to varietal purity requirements of certification. 

In USA 180-360 metres is followed. 

At ICRISAT 300-400 m is followed for very safe production of hybrids and male sterile lines. 

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Cultivation practices in brief: 

Land preparation: 

As red gram is a deep rooted crop, it requires at least one deep tilling up to 8 to 10 inches 

and one shallow tilling. Ploughing or preparation of field by bullock or tractor drawn cultivator 

(Gorru) followed by planking (Guntaka) to remove weeds is required before sowing. 

Sowing time / season: 

For higher yield ideal time for sowing in kharif is early in June. Sowings can be continued 

till August, but yield will be gradually reduced. During rabi, red gram can be sown from 15 

September till 15 October. In this also, September 15 sown crop give higher yield compared to 

October 15 sown crop. Pigeon pea produced during kharif will have better seed quality than 

summer. 

Seed source: 

Obtain higher grade seed (to produce certified seed, foundation seed is to be obtained) from 

source approved by the concerned state seed certification agency. If seed production is for private 

company then that company will supply seed. 

Pre-sowing treatment: 

Soak seed before sowing for 3 hrs in aqueous solution of SnSO4 100 ppm (1 g/10 litre water) at 

1/3 volume of seed and quickly air dry in shade to their original weight. 

Seed treatment: 

Treat seed with Pseudomonas fluorescence @ 10 g/kg seed. Bio control agents are compatible 

with bio fertilizers. First treat seed with bio control agents and then with Rhizobium. 

Treat with Rhizobial culture CC1. For red lateritic soil Rhizobial culture VPR 1 is effective. 

One packet of 200 g Rhizobial culture is sufficient for treating seed required for one acre. 

During rabi 200 g culture/8 kg seed is needed. The bacterial culture slurry may be 

prepared with rice gruel (ganji) or jaggery solution. Dry bacterial culture treated seed in 

shade for 15 minutes before sowing. 



Method of sowing: 

Sowing is done at a depth about 5 cm, either with seed cum fertiliser drill or dropped in plough 

furrow. 

Spacing & Seed rate: 

Spacing & Seed rate for different situations are given here. 

Situation Spacing, cm Seed rate, kg/Ac 

Kharif black soils 150 x 20 or 180 x 20 3-4 

kharif light/red soils 90 x 20 6-7 

rabi irrigated 75-90 x 10 10-12 

rabi rain fed 45-60 x 10 12-15 

Manuring & Fertilisation: 

Application of 2.0 tonnes of well decomposed FYM/compost/Ac or 0.8 to 1.2 tonnes of vermi 

compost mixed with 2 kg PSB (phosphate solubulizing bacteria)/Ac is needed during last tilling 

Addition of 5-10 quintal neem leaf manure is beneficial not only in terms of increased nutrient 

supply, but also in terms of reduced problem of soil borne pathogens and nematodes 

In kharif apply 8 kg N + 20 kg P 2 0 5 (50 kg DAP or 20 kg urea + 125 kg SSP)/Ac as basal 

application and incorporated before sowing seed. Otherwise use seed cum fertiliser drill at sowing. 

In rabi apply 16 kg N + 20 kg P 2 0 5 (50 kg DAP + 15 kg urea) or (35 kg urea + 125 kg SSP)/Ac as 

basal application and incorporated before sowing seed. Otherwise use seed cum fertiliser drill at 

sowing. 

Apply 200 litres of Sanjeevak or Jeevamrut/Ac at the time of sowing or immediately after, for ready 

availability of micro-organisms to improve soil fertility. 

Spraying 10 to 15 g urea/litre of water at initial reproductive stage of crop is beneficial for 

increasing yield in rain fed drought conditions. At any time concentration should not exceed 20 

g/litre of water 

Application of phosphate solubulizing bacteria (PSB) for release of fixed P 2 0 5 in the soil is an 

effective bio fertilizer. 



Irrigation: 

Photo 1 - Good Growth of Red Gram 

As red gram is mainly a rain fed crop, usually irrigations are not being given. However, in seed 

production, irrigating when moisture deficit occurs, will improve yield and profits greatly. 

Irrigation during dry spells in kharif and moisture deficit periods during rabi are essential to obtain 

good yields. 

If there is moisture deficit, irrigation before bud formation and during pod formation stage 

improves yield. 



Weed Management & Inter-culture: 

Weed management is required up to 60 days of crop growth, as this is the time when weeds 

compete with the crop for nutrients. Interculture operations should be done to keep the field weed 

free and to preserve soil moisture and to improve microbial activity. One or two hand weedings or 

hoeings are to be done at about 30 and 60 days after sowing depending on weed growth. 

Spraying of chemical weedicides like Pendimethalin 30% @ 1 to 1.5 litres/Ac or Alachlor @ 1 

litre/Ac immediately after sowing or within 24 hrs after sowing is recommended. Normally no 

weeding is required after 60 days of crop growth. If it is needed, manual weeding can be done. 

Important pests and diseases: 

Gram pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) is a major pest on red gram. It damages flower buds 

and pods. It keeps half of its body outside while feeding on pods. Deep ploughing is an effective 

measure for its control besides other IPM measures. 

To attract spiders and ants that predate on larvae of insects mix 4 kg Jaggery powder with 200 

litres water and sprayed on one Ac soil surface, 

About 20 bird perches per Ac are to be installed to attract birds that predate on pests. Yellow rice 

(1 kg rice cooked with turmeric powder) can be kept on or near perches to attract predatory birds. 

Release of 5000 eggs of Chrysoperla 15 days after sowing and 50,000 eggs of Trichogramma (2- 

3 cards) 30 days after sowing can keep pest problem below ETL (1 to 2 caterpillars/m 2 or 5 to 

10% pod damaged). Four pheromone traps/Ac can be used for pest monitoring. 

Control measures: 

If the pest exceeds ETL, following control measures can be adopted: 

1. Immediately after observing eggs or early instar larvae spray 5% NSKE (50 g crushed 

neem seed in 50 litre water) or 5 ml/litre neem oil (azadirachtin) in initial stages for ovicidal 

action to kill eggs of Helicoverpa. 

2. Biological control methods like spraying 200 LE of NPV or 400 g Bt or fungal parasite 

Beauveria bassiana/Ac should be done to control Helicoverpa pest and also to reduce 

poisonous pesticide usage which pollute environment. 

3. Bigger larvae can be hand picked and destroyed. 



If it is not possible to control the pest, take up chemical sprayings as detailed below: 

Spray @ 2.0 ml quinalphos 25 EC or 1 g Acephate/litre water. 200 litre spray fluid/Ac is required. 

Total 2-3 sprays during flowering and pod formation stages, at 10 day interval are required. 

Change chemical each time. 

For immediate control spray @ 1 ml indoxacarb or 0.3 ml spinosad 45 sc/litre water. 200 

litre spray fluid/Ac is required. 

Maruca: 

This pest attacks at bud formation, flowering and pod formation stages. For control, spray @ per 

litre water. Spray at an interval of 1 week. Every time change chemical shown on left side of the 

table. 200 litre spray fluid/Ac is required. 

2.5 ml chlorpyriphos or 

0.75 ml novoluron or 

0.75 ml spinosad or 

1 ml lambda cyhalothrin 

+ 1 ml dichlorvos 

Wild Boars: 

Controlling them by erecting solar fence around the plot is effective. Seed production plots must 

be well protected as the value of produce is more. Commitments will also be there to produce 

seed compulsorily. 

Diseases: 

Fusarium wilt is an important disease that can also be a serious problem in some places. 

Seed treatment with 8 g Trichoderma viridae/kg seed is essential for prevention of wilt. 

Sterility Mosaic: 

This virus disease spreads through eriophid mite. Preventing spread of this disease through 

control of eriophid mite is essential. Two chemical fungicidal sprays with 3 g wettable sulphur or 4 

ml kelthane/litre of water alternatively at an interval of one week can be done for control of mites. 



Macrophomina wilt: 

Drying of total plant or few branches will be observed. Take up seed production of only tolerant 

varieties like Surya (MRG 1004) and MRG 66. It is better to avoid seed production of susceptible 

varieties in endemic plots for such diseases. 

In seed production effective and quick control of pests and diseases is essential. 

Roguing: 

Rogue off types and diseased plants affected by Fusarium and Macrophomina wilt, sterility mosaic 

virus in seed field from time to time. 

Minimum number of 2 field inspections will be done by certification agency during flowering to 

harvest. 

Red gram crop at flowering stage 

Red gram flower 



Different varieties of Red gram at pod stage 

Harvesting, threshing & cleaning: 



Harvested crop is left in the field to dry for about a week so that drying of pods to about 12 

to 13% moisture content takes place. Later, threshing is to be done by threshers or manually. 

Then seed is cleaned and dried to 8-9% moisture. Use only highly germinable (90% and above) 

and normal coloured seed retained in wire mesh sieve, BSS 5 x 5 (aperture width 3.35 mm) for 

large seeded varieties and BSS 6 x 6 (2.8 mm) for small seeded varieties for storing. Reject those 

seed that pass through the sieve as well as discoloured and broken seed. 

Yield: 

Yield varies from 8-10 q/Ac. 

Storing: 

Graded seed should be further dried to 7 to 8% moisture. 

For storing seed in dry places up to six months, they should be packed in fresh thick cloth 

or gunny bags. 

For storing in humid areas and for long term (1-2 years) storage; they should be packed in 

moisture-vapour-proof container like polythene bags of 700 gauge. 

These bags should be filled with seed leaving only sufficient space to close their opening 

by perfectly heat-sealing to make it air tight. 

They should be stitched and closed. 

These bags may in turn be covered by gunny bags and closed before stocking to prevent 

slipping. 

Store seed bags on racks or wooden pallets in a dry storage room. 

Another method treating seed with halogen mixture (containing pure CaOC1, CaCO3 and 

arappu leaf powder in 5:5:1 ratio @ 3g/kg) and store in 700 gauge poly bags to maintain 

high germination for more than 10 months. 

Care must be taken to prevent mechanical admixture during sowing, harvesting, 

threshing, winnowing, drying, bagging, storing etc. 

End of Chapter 1.0 



2.0 While purchasing seed from Co-Farmers one has to observe: 

Whether the seed crop is thoroughly rouged or not. 

What is the yielding capacity of the variety? 

Whether the variety is free from pests and diseases etc. 

If the farmer is fully satisfied then only that seed has to be procured. 


3.0 Precaution to be taken while purchasing seed from the market: 

Purchase seed from reliable source only 

Purchase from authorized /licensed dealer. 

Take receipt. 

Check MRP (Maximum Retail Price) before purchase. It should not exceed. 

Check whether the seal of bag or container is intact or not 

If seal is broken don’t purchase, select another good one. 

Check germination percentage before sowing at the house/farm. It can be easily done. 

Count 100 seeds. Sow these seeds @ 10/line in 10 lines. 

Give light watering regularly every day till germination takes place in about a week’s time. 

Observe number of seedlings germinated , so that the germination percentage is known in 

advance of sowing 

If the germination percentage is less than 80% the extra seed has to be sown to 

compensate loss in germination percentage 

Preserve the bill, bag and Tag till the end of the season i.e., harvest of the crop. 

If there is poor germination it has to be reported to the local agriculture officer concerned in 

writing. The Director of Research of Agricultural University will nominate a scientist to visit the 

field along with Agricultural Departmental Officials, to check seed plots and ascertain whether 

there are defects in seed or not. If the seed is defective farmer has to file a case against the seed 

company in the consumer forum to get compensation. 

If defects are noticed in the middle of the season like no flowering in the crop; admixtures in the 

variety; even then farmer has to report to the local agricultural officer in writing about the defects 

in the variety supplied. He has to produce proof of purchase namely bill, bag or container. The 



team will give a report. Based on the report if the defect in the variety is confirmed farmer 

can go to consumer forum to get compensation. 

Where ever farmers produce seed on large scale it has to be sold to others. 

Production of red gram seed by farmers is mainly of two types: Seed production with out 

certification (for self consumption and local selling) and with certification (for selling in far away 

places to production centres i.e. for growing over a wide area. 

Uncertified seed is mainly meant for growing in nearby or local area. It may be in the same 

village or surrounding villages, or where popularity exists for such uncertified seed based on faith. 


4.0 Uncertified seed: 

Uncertified seed is mainly meant for growing in nearby or local area. 

It may be in the same village or surrounding villages, or where popularity exists for such 

uncertified seed based on faith. 

Procurement of seed required for seed production can be from farmers own seed or 

procured from public or private organisations. 

Identify vigorously growing healthy plants, free from insect pests and diseases. 

Harvest seed from them and use for producing seed. 

Following Isolation requirement, periodical rouging before/during flowering and during pod 

development helps in improving quality and also market value of seed produced from it 

compared to not following all these practices. 

All cultivation practices are similar to certified seed. But there is neither registration with 

certifying agency nor buy back agreement with any private organisation. 

Seed produced in this manner will be sold to persons having faith on the producer. 

To such seed producers it is advised to procure foundation seed from organisations like 

Agricultural University/ICAR research stations for producing certified seed. 

Clean cultivation along with timely rouging and harvesting is to be done. 

Threshing and cleaning can be taken up by individually. 

Processing packing marketing etc can be done individually or through farmer’s societies. 

Registration with seed cortication agency of the state concerned like Andhra Pradesh 

State Seed Certification Agency (APSSCA) for AP can be done individually or as a group 

in a contiguous area. 

Thus farmers can get 20-50% more income in seed production compared to commercial 

cultivation of red gram. 



Certified seed is mainly meant for growing over a wide area even throughout globe. Certified seed 

production details are given here. 


. 

5.0 

Do’s: 

1. Red gram cultivation should be done only in well drained black cotton soils or red 

sandy loam soils. Take up deep summer ploughing up to 8 inches depth. It destroys 

and reduces gram caterpillar (Red gram pod borer Helicoverpa armigera) pupae 

hibernating in soil. 

2. Use quality higher grade seed to produce quality lower grade seed. 

3. Use optimum seed rate and sow in time. 

4. Follow effective control measures in pest and disease control. 

5. Avoid moisture stress before flowering and seed development stage. 

6. Take up soil and moisture conservation measures for rain fed crop. 

7. Foliar spray @ 10-15 g urea/litre water at the initial reproductive stage is beneficial 

for increasing yield in rain fed drought condition. 

Don’ts: 

1. Don’t take up red gram (RG) seed production in saline soils as they are not suitable 

for its cultivation. 

2. Don’t cultivate RG crop in soils with poor drainage. 

3. Don’t sow RG crop after 15 th Aug in any case. Avoid late sowing. 

4. Don’t mix bio agents like Trichoderma viridae or Rhizobium with chemical 

pesticides 

5. Don’t take up topping. 




6.0 Seed certification procedures are given in annexure 

ANNXURE 

Seed Certification Procedures 

Phases of Seed Certification 

Certification shall be completed in six broad phases listed under 

• Receipt and scrutiny of application. 

• Verification of seed source, class and other requirements of the seed used for raising the seed 

crop. 

• Field inspections to verify conformity of the standing crop to the prescribed field standards. 

Supervision at post harvest stages including processing and packing. 

• Supervision of post-harvest stages including processing and packaging; 

• Seed sampling and analysis, including genetic purity test and / or seed health test, if any, in 

order to verify conformity to the prescribed standards and 

• Grant of certificate and certification tags, bagging and sealing. 

Seed Certification Procedures 

All the seed material to be used for seed production programme is subject to verification by the 

Agency. The seed producer should submit to the Agency relevant evidence such as certification 

tags, seals, labels, seed containers, purchase records, sales records etc, as may be demanded by 

the Agency during scrutiny of the application and/or during the first inspection of the seed crop in 

order to confirm that the seed used for raising the crop has been obtained from a source approved 

by the Agency and conforms to the class of seed required for seed production. A sourceverification 

register containing relevant information as prescribed should be maintained by the 

seed producer for verification by Agency staff. 

After source verification application for certification should be submitted in the prescribed FORM-1 

in triplicate to the concerned Assistant Director of Seed Certification. FORM-1 is available with the 

divisional and zonal offices of the Agency._ FORM-1 should be submitted within 30 days from the 

date of sowing or 15 days from the date of transplanting as the case may be. 



The relevant seed certification charges such as Registration fee, inspection fee grow out test 

charges (wherever necessary), seed testing charges, etc. should be remitted along with FORM-1, 

Separate FORM-1 should be submitted for certification of each variety. The FORM-1 should 

contain complete details of the name and address of the seed producer; season of production; 

name and address of the grower; location of the seed plot; crop/ variety and class of seed to be 

produced; area under seed production; details of parental seed materials used with lot number; 

date of sowing and the particulars of seed certification charges remitted. 

• In a single application, the maximum area that can be offered for certification is 25 acres. 

Additional area will require separate application. 

• No refund of inspection and registration fee will be made once the seed plot has been visited / 

inspected by the Seed Certification Officer. 

• The seed producer should assist the Agency staff in locating the seed plots during the first 

inspection. 

• Seed producers should guide their growers in agronomic practices, pest/disease control etc., for 

seed production. 

• Only seed from plots meeting all the prescribed field standards for certification is accepted for 

processing at the recognised seed processing plants. 

• All the necessary care should be taken to avoid admixture during harvesting, threshing and 

transportation. 

• Harvested seed produce from the approved fields should be brought to the seed processing unit 

and seeds are certified within 2 ½ months from the date of harvest. 

• Certification of a seed lot will be taken up only if the seed lots have met the prescribed field and 

seed standards. 

FIELD INSPECTION: 

Inspection of the standing crop is an essential step in verifying conformity of seed crop to 

prescribed minimum seed-certification standards. All the registered seed production fields will be 

inspected by qualified, trained and experienced officers of the Agency. 

Verification of all factors affecting seed quality in the field may not normally be possible in a single 

inspection as all the factors in the field may not be apparent or may not occur at the same time or 

all of them may not affect seed quality at the same stage of crop growth. Hence two or more 

inspections phased to cover all the important stages of crop growth are required for most crops. 

The number of inspections and the stages of crop growth at which they should be conducted vary 



from crop to crop depending on the crop duration, pollination behavior, susceptibility to 

contamination, disease-susceptible stages, nature of the contaminating factors, etc. 

Accordingly field inspection of seed certification plots is conducted at vegetative or pre-flowering 

stage; flowering stage, post-flowering and pre-harvest stage. 

Field Inspections at vegetative or pre flowering stages are done to confirm the actual acreage 

planted and compare it with the acreage allotted or for which the application was submitted and to 

record the excess area if any and to confirm actual date of sowing/planting verify, for seed crops 

involving two different parents, whether the grower has followed the recommended planting ratios 

and border rows and has marked" the end of each male row: verify the presence of any 

contaminant within the prescribed isolation distance, guide the grower in solving the isolation if 

any and advise the grower to remove the same before flowering. 

* advise the removal of all off types on the basis of vegetative characters. 

* detect occurrence of any contamination within the isolation distance and to determine the area to 

be rejected due to inadequate isolation. 

* guide the grower in solving nicking problems wherever applicable. 

* verify morphological characters of the crop. 

* Inspection at post-flowering and pre harvest stages is done to confirm that the observations on 

planting ratios, planting of border rows, off types, de tasseling of maize crosses, removal of pollen 

shedders in bajra, sorghum, sunflower etc. during previous inspections are reasonably accurate 

and the defects in these factors had not escaped attention in earlier inspections. 

* Confirm that the grower had done through roguing after the inspection at flowering. 

verify the removal of contaminating factors, objectionable weed plants and diseased plants/heads. 

* educate the grower about harvesting technology, give guidance regarding the care to be taken 

during harvesting, threshing and transportation, and assess the expected yield (approximate) from 

the seed crop. 



PRESCRIBED FIELD STANDARDS FOR RED GRAM UNDER CERTIFICATION: 

Maximum permissible level off types in Foundation seed 0.10 % Certified seed 0.20 % 

FIELD COUNTS: 

For all crops five counts are taken for an area up to 5 acres, and an additional count taken 

for each additional five acres as given below. 

Area of the field crop, Acres No. of counts to be 

taken 

0-5 5 

5-10 6 

10-15 7 

15-20 8 

20-25 9 

In any inspection if the first set of counts shows that the seed crop does not confirm to the 

prescribed standards for any factor, 'a second set of counts should be taken for that factor. 

However, when the first set of counts shows a factor is more than twice the maximum permitted it 

is not necessary to take a second set of counts. Two sets of counts are called double counts. 

Some cops tiller others do not, some are planted narrow. Others wide, thus the number of 

plants/heads comprising a single count differs from crop to crop. No. of plants/head per count in 

red gram is 100. 

Seed crops meeting the prescribed field standards for certification will be harvested, threshed and 

transported to seed processing plants authorised by STATE SEED CERTIFICATION AGENCY 

along with Final Filed Inspection Report issued by the concerned Seed Certification Officer. 

REJECTION OF SEED PLOTS: 

The agency has the authority to reject seed plots offered for certification on the following grounds. 

The isolation distance is inadequate. The seed crop does not conform to the prescribed field 

standards for any factor or contaminant. One-third or more of a self-pollinated crop is so heavily 

lodged as to render it impossible to take the field counts. One-third or more is lodged just prior to 

or during flowering so that inspection during flowering is difficult / not possible. The application in 



Form-1 has been submitted late viz., when the crop has crossed the flowering stage by the time of 

the first inspection. 

RE-INSPECTION: 

In case of seed fields rejected due to nonconformity to the prescribed field standards at a certain 

inspection, the Agency shall, at the producer's request and after removal of source of 

contamination or contaminant plants in the seed field by the grower, undertake one re-inspection 

over and above the number of inspections prescribed for the crop provided the removal of the 

source of contamination can ensure conformity of the seed crop to the standards prescribed and 

provided further that no irreversible damage has been caused to the quality of the seed by the 

contaminant(s) 

HARVESTING, THRESHING AND TRANSPORTATION: 

A seed crop meeting the field standards for certification shall be properly harvested, threshed, 

dried and transported to the registered seed processing unit and certified within 2+ months from 

the date of harvest. During these operations seed producers/growers should take all necessary 

precautions to safeguard seed quality by preventing seed admixture and other causes of 

contamination at any stage not supervised by the Agency. 

SPOT SORTING, SHELLING AND CERTIFICATION OF SEED PRODUCE: 

For crops like maize, potato and groundnut, on the request of the seed producer, permission shall 

be granted to take up certification work at the field level, provided the seed processing unit is 

located far away from the seed field, transportation of the bulk seed produce may not be 

economical and there is lack of adequate 'storage space at the seed processing unit or any other' 

reasons to the satisfaction of the divisional head of seed certification. 

Work in .respect of the above crops shall be taken up in presence of the representative of the 

Seed Certification Agency and upon remitting the prescribed fees.

Red gram (Cajanus Cajan) Seed Production - Efresh India

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