Black Gram (Urad) Farming in India: Complete Guide to Cultivation, Yield & Profits

Urad grows best in well-drained loamy soil with pH of 4.7–7.5 and warm temperatures of 25°C–35°C. Well-distributed rainfall is ideal, while excessive rain can reduce crop yield.

Prepare the field with 1 to 2 deep ploughings and 2 to 3 rounds of harrowing and planking. Apply 10 to 12.5 tonnes of FYM per hectare during the final ploughing, along with the recommended basal fertilizer dose.

Urad is mainly sown from late June to early July using 12–15 kg seed per hectare, with 30–45 cm row spacing and 10 cm plant spacing. On some rgeions, sowing is done in Rabi season (October–November), requiring higher seed rates.

Treat Urad seeds with Thiram + Carbendazim or Carbendazim alone to prevent diseases. For pest control, use Imidacloprid 70 WS @ 7 g/kg seed. For better growth, inoculate seeds with Rhizobium and PSB cultures @ 5–7 g/kg seed.

Common Urad intercropping options include Urad + pigeonpea in Kharif and Urad + sugarcane, sunflower, maize, or sorghum in spring. Other suitable combinations include maize-potato-Urad, maize-toria-Urad, rice-wheat-Urad, and potato-wheat-Urad.