Chana (Chickpea / Gram) Farming in India: Schedule, Fertilizer & SOP

By Sameer Allawadi – Technical Director, Utkarsh Agrochem Pvt. Ltd. · Updated November 2026

For chana (chickpea, gram) growers in all regions of India: desi and kabuli types, rainfed and irrigated, in the North, Central, West and South. Quantities are per acre unless written otherwise. Products in bold are available from Utkarsh Agrochem.

Quick answer

Also known as: chickpea, Bengal gram, gram, kabuli chana; चना (Hindi), ચણા (Gujarati), हरभरा (Marathi), శనగలు (Telugu), கொண்டைக்கடலை (Tamil), ಕಡಲೆ (Kannada), ছোলা (Bengali), ਛੋਲੇ (Punjabi).

This guide is for: chana farmers in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and other states, growing desi or kabuli chana, rain-fed or irrigated.

Get the inputs: every Utkarsh product name in this guide links to its page on utkarshagro.com, where you can order online with delivery across India. More free schedules: Utkarsh crop schedules. Customer care: 75678 33044. Product information and offline orders: 88665 43678 or 90162 08648.

Before you start: is chana right for your farm and season?

Chana is India's most important pulse. It fixes much of its own nitrogen, needs little water and fits after kharif soybean, maize, paddy or fallow. The two biggest yield killers are Fusarium wilt and root rots (decided mostly by seed, variety and field history) and pod borer (Helicoverpa), followed by terminal heat in central and southern India and frost or grey mould in the North. Check your land, water, money and season against these tables. If two or more rows fall in the "Not suitable" column, fix those first or choose another crop.

Land, climate and water

Money, labour and market

Row spacing and plant numbers

Water needed by crop stage (irrigated crop)

Never flood heavy black soils, and never irrigate at full flowering in cloudy weather. Signs of wrong watering: excessive leafy growth, flower drop, grey mould and wilting in patches mean too much water; small pods and early drying mean too little at pod filling.

Utkarsh products used in this guide

Click a product name to see its details, pack sizes and price.

1. Quick schedule — one page (per acre)

Days are counted from sowing, for a 100–110 day crop in central India. In North India, the same stages come 20–40 days later. Pest and disease control is in Sections 5–7.

Always:

• Use a wilt-resistant variety and treated seed in every field; most wilt losses are decided at sowing.

• Inoculate seed with Rhizoz every season; it supplies most of the nitrogen.

• Keep irrigations light; never irrigate at full flowering in cloudy weather.

• Start pod borer monitoring at flowering; spray when larvae cross the threshold, not on a fixed date.

• Add Sil-Spread to every spray; rotate insecticides; never mix two insecticides in one tank.

2. Varieties, sowing calendar and regional challenges

2.1 Variety types

Buy certified seed of a wilt-resistant variety at least once in 3–4 years; farm-saved seed builds up seed-borne disease.

2.2 Sowing calendar

2.3 Region-wise challenges

3. Fertilizer and seed inoculation

3.1 Nutrients per acre

Chana fixes most of its own nitrogen once the root nodules form (3–4 weeks after sowing). Extra urea gives leafy plants, fewer pods and more disease. Phosphorus and sulphur are what most chana fields lack.

Basal dose (all at sowing, placed 5 cm below or beside the seed): SSP 100–125 kg (supplies phosphorus and sulphur) + Urea 15–20 kg + MOP 15 kg + Huminoz-98 900 g, with FYM 1–2 t enriched with Microbes and the Nematode and Fungus Control Kit. If DAP is used instead of SSP: DAP 35–45 kg, no urea, plus gypsum 100 kg or Sulphur 90% 8 kg for sulphur. In fields with termites, add the Grub and Termite Control Kit (1 kg of each product) to the FYM.

3.2 Seed treatment and inoculation (in this order)

1. Disease protection — choose one:

   • Organic: Trichoz-P 10 g per kg of seed (with Microbes 5 g per kg).

   • Chemical: Carbendazim 50% WP 1 g + Thiram 75% WS 2 g per kg of seed (or Carbendazim + Mancozeb ready mix 2 g per kg).

2. Rhizobium inoculation (always, last): Rhizoz 5 ml per kg of seed (100 ml for 20 kg), mixed with a little cooled jaggery solution (10%) so it sticks. Use Phosphoz 5 ml per kg as well for better phosphorus uptake.

3. Dry in shade for 30–60 minutes and sow the same day. If a chemical fungicide is used, treat with it first, dry, then inoculate just before sowing.

3.3 After sowing

3.4 Nutrient problems and fixes

Beshape (boron 20%): spray 1 g/L at flowering where flower and pod drop is high. Black Pearl (liquid humic acid 12% + fulvic acid 3%): 2 L/acre with the first irrigation, for better roots and nodules. Trichoherz-P (Trichoderma harzianum): use along with Trichoz-P for seed treatment (10 g/kg each) against wilt, collar rot and dry root rot. ZinGap (zinc EDTA) and Mandate (manganese EDTA): chana on alkaline and calcareous soils is often short of zinc. Spray ZinGap 1 g/L at 25–30 days and again before flowering, adding Mandate 1 g/L where young leaves are pale between green veins (they can be mixed). Use Combi-2 when several micronutrients are short together.

4. Sowing, nipping, irrigation and weed control

4.1 Field preparation and sowing

• Deep summer ploughing once in 2–3 years (kills pupae of pod borer and cutworm and some disease in the soil); then 1–2 harrowings for a clean, not too fine, seedbed.

• In heavy black soils, sow on broad beds and furrows or ridges to drain excess water.

• Sow with a seed drill 8–10 cm deep into moist soil (chana is sown deeper than most pulses to reach moisture and avoid wilt in surface heat).

• Rows east–west where possible, for better light.

• Intercropping: chana + linseed or mustard (4:1 or 6:2 rows) reduces grey mould and pod borer; chana + wheat or barley in the North.

4.2 Nipping

Pinching off the top 2–3 cm of the main shoots at 30–40 days (by hand, or by goats or sheep grazing lightly in traditional practice) gives more branches and pods in irrigated and fertile fields. Do not nip in poor, rainfed fields, in late sowings, or in areas with Ascochyta blight.

4.3 Irrigation

• Rainfed crops depend on stored moisture: sow on time and do one shallow hoeing to break the soil crust and slow drying.

• Irrigated crops: 1 light irrigation at 40–45 days (pre-flowering) and 1 at 70–75 days (pod filling), each 5–6 cm deep. Sprinkler irrigation saves water and reduces wilt.

• Avoid irrigation at full flowering, in cloudy weather, and flood irrigation on black soils.

4.4 Weed control

• Pre-emergence: Pendimethalin 30% EC 1 L per acre in 200 L water, sprayed on moist soil within 1–3 days of sowing.

• One or two hand weedings or hoeings at 25–30 and 45–50 days. The first 6 weeks are the critical period.

• Remove weeds such as bathua and wild onion before they set seed.

5. Spray schedule

All doses are per litre of water. Add Sil-Spread 0.25 ml/L to every spray. Use 150 L of water per acre up to 40 days and 200 L after that, so the spray reaches pods inside the canopy. The nutrition column is the same for both routes. For pest and disease control choose either the organic route or the chemical route at each spray.

Note on your choice: Beveroz-P and neem work well on pod borer eggs and young larvae, so start them at early flowering. If larvae are large or above 2 per metre of row, use the chemical route until they are down, then return to the organic route. For grey mould and Ascochyta blight in rainy, cloudy weather, chemical fungicides act faster. Keep 5–7 days between a chemical spray and a bio-product. Never mix two insecticides in one tank.

If pod borer, wilt or blight build up between sprays, act as in Sections 6 and 7.

6. Pod borer and wilt

6.1 Gram pod borer (Helicoverpa)

Pod borer is the most damaging insect of chana in India and can destroy 20–40% of the crop in bad years. Young larvae eat leaves and flowers; older larvae bore into pods and eat the seed, often with half the body outside the pod. One larva can damage 30–40 pods.

Prevention and monitoring:

• Deep summer ploughing; timely sowing; intercrop with linseed, mustard or coriander.

• Gram pod borer lure with funnel trap 5 per acre from 30 days; change the lure every 3–4 weeks. A rise to 4–5 moths per trap per night for 2–3 nights means egg laying has started.

• Bird perches (T-shaped sticks, 1 m tall) 20 per acre; birds such as mynas and drongos eat many larvae. Remove the perches at pod filling so birds do not eat seed.

• Shake 1 metre of row over a cloth at 5 spots twice a week from flowering. Spray when you find 1–2 larvae per metre of row, or when 1 in 10 plants shows damaged pods.

Control — rotate:

Spray in the evening, covering the whole plant. Do not use synthetic pyrethroids again and again; pod borer is resistant to many of them.

6.2 Fusarium wilt

Wilt is the most damaging disease of chana in central and South India, and it survives in the soil for 5–6 years.

Signs: seedlings (3–5 weeks) or older plants droop suddenly, with leaves turning pale and then straw-coloured; plants die in patches. When the root is split lengthwise, the inside is dark brown or black. Unlike dry root rot, the roots are not rotten or shredded.

Prevention (this is where control works):

• Wilt-resistant varieties (JG-11, JG-14, JG-16, JAKI-9218, Digvijay, Vijay, RVG-202, NBeG-3 and others for your region).

• 3-year rotation away from chana (sorghum, maize, pearl millet, wheat, mustard).

• Trichoz-P seed treatment and FYM enriched with Microbes and the Nematode and Fungus Control Kit.

• Deep summer ploughing; do not sow too early in hot soils; no flood irrigation.

• Uproot and burn wilted plants; do not leave them in the field.

In a standing crop: Fungus Control Kit drench, 5 g/L of each, along the rows around affected patches (organic), or Carbendazim 50% WP 1 g/L drench (chemical). These slow the spread; they cannot revive wilted plants.

7. Other pests and diseases

Choose either the organic route or the chemical route. Doses are per litre of water unless written otherwise.

7.1 Insects

7.2 Diseases

8. Flower drop, poor pod set, frost and terminal heat

9. Step-by-step field SOP

Stage A — Planning (1–2 months before)

1. Test soil; plan SSP, sulphur and zinc (Section 3).

2. Choose a field with no chana in the last 2–3 seasons and no waterlogging.

3. Choose a wilt-resistant variety suited to your region and sowing date (Section 2); buy certified seed and Rhizoz in advance.

Stage B — Land preparation and sowing

1. Summer ploughing; 1–2 harrowings; broad beds or ridges on heavy black soils.

2. Apply FYM with Microbes and the Nematode and Fungus Control Kit, and the basal fertilizer.

3. Treat and inoculate seed (Section 3.2); sow 8–10 cm deep in moist soil with a seed drill.

4. Pre-emergence weedicide within 1–3 days.

Stage C — Crop care

• Weeding at 25–30 and 45–50 days.

• Nipping at 30–40 days in irrigated, vigorous crops.

• Irrigation as in Section 4.3.

• Sprays as in Section 5.

• Traps and bird perches from 30 days.

• Field walk twice a week: wilting patches (split the root to check), cut seedlings, larvae on shaken plants, grey or brown spots after rain or fog.

• Uproot and burn wilted and stunt-affected plants.

Stage D — Harvest and post-harvest

1. Harvest when leaves turn yellow-brown and most pods are dry; seeds rattle in the pod. Do not wait too long or pods shatter and seeds lose shine.

2. Cut or pull plants in the morning; tall varieties can be harvested with a combine.

3. Dry in the sun on a clean threshing floor for 5–7 days; thresh by tractor treading or a thresher; clean.

4. Dry the seed to 9–10% moisture (seeds crack sharply between the teeth).

5. Storage: clean, dry bags or bins; mix dry neem leaves, or store in airtight hermetic bags to prevent pulse beetle (bruchid). Licensed stores use approved fumigation. Check every month.

Yield: rainfed crops 5–7 quintals per acre; irrigated crops with good care 8–10 quintals; kabuli 7–9 quintals.

Keep records

Write down: variety, seed source and sowing date; seed treatment; every fertilizer and spray (date, product, dose); trap catches and larvae counts; wilt patches; harvest weight and price received.

Crop planning: crop rotation, intercropping and trap crops

In crop rotation, compatible crops (farmers' "friend crops") are good to grow before or after chana (chickpea). Incompatible crops ("enemy crops") share its Fusarium wilt, dry root rot, collar rot or pod borer and should not be grown just before or after it.

Pheromone traps, lures and other trapping methods

Using traps correctly: fix traps 30 cm above the crop; handle lures with gloves; replace every 3–4 weeks.

Other non-chemical methods: bird perches 10–20 per acre ("T" shaped); nipping at 30–40 days; shake plants to collect larvae; deep summer ploughing.

10. Cost and profit per acre

An irrigated chana crop costs about ₹28,000 per acre. At a yield of 9 quintals it breaks even at about ₹31 per kg. These are approximate October 2026 figures; check local rates.

Not included: land rent, irrigation power, transport and commission.

At 9 quintals per acre:

The MSP for chana was ₹5,650 per quintal for the 2025–26 marketing season; check the current year's MSP and procurement dates. Kabuli chana fetches a higher price but costs more to grow. Wilt-free fields, timely pod borer control and one or two light irrigations make the biggest difference to profit; a rainfed crop costs less (about ₹20,000) and gives 5–7 quintals.

Organic manures and growth regulators from Utkarsh

Use these alongside the fertilizer schedule above. Pulses respond well to phosphorus, and PROM supplies it slowly together with organic carbon.

Growth regulators: Flower Fix and CulStar are not labelled for chana, so do not use them on this crop.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to sow chana?

Mid-October to mid-November in most of India, when the day temperature falls below about 30 °C. In central and south India sow in the first half of this window; in the north, late October to early November. Late sowing (December) cuts yield and raises pod borer damage.

How much seed of chana is needed per acre?

About 25–35 kg per acre for small-seeded desi chana and 40–50 kg for bold kabuli chana, at 30–45 cm row spacing. Always treat the seed with Trichoz-P and Rhizoz before sowing.

How do I control wilt in chana organically?

Sow wilt-resistant varieties, treat seed with Trichoz-P, apply FYM enriched with Microbes and the Nematode and Fungus Control Kit at sowing, avoid sowing too early in warm soil, and rotate chana with wheat or sorghum rather than another pulse.

How do I control pod borer (Helicoverpa) in chana?

Install 5 pheromone traps and 15–20 bird perches per acre, spray Neemoz Gold at the egg stage, then the Insect Control Kit at 5 g/L of each product when young larvae appear. Use a chemical insecticide only if larvae cross the threshold of one per metre of row.

What fertilizer does chana need?

Chana fixes most of its own nitrogen. A small basal dose of SSP, a little urea and MOP with Huminoz-98 and FYM is enough, followed by foliar NPK 19:19:19 before flowering and NPK 00:52:34 / NPK 13:00:45 at flowering and pod fill.

Why should I nip the tips of chana plants?

Nipping (removing the growing tips) at 30–40 days makes the plant branch more, giving more flowers and pods. Do not nip late or in a weak crop.

What yield can I expect from chana per acre?

Rain-fed crops usually give 5–8 quintals per acre; well-managed irrigated crops give 8–12 quintals per acre.

What is the difference between desi and kabuli chana?

Desi chana has smaller, brown seeds and is hardier; common varieties are JG-11, JG-14, GNG-1581 and Pusa-372, sown at 25–35 kg per acre. Kabuli chana has bold, cream-coloured seeds that fetch a higher price, but it needs better soil and care and is more prone to wilt and pod borer; varieties include KAK-2, JGK-1 and PKV Kabuli-2, sown at 40–50 kg per acre.

About this guide

Prepared by Sameer Allawadi, Technical Director, Utkarsh Agrochem Pvt. Ltd., Surat, Gujarat — makers of bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, biostimulants and water-soluble fertilizers since 1999. Last reviewed: November 2026. Doses are general guidance for Indian conditions; always read the product label and follow local agriculture department advice.

Topics covered: chana farming, chickpea cultivation in India, gram crop schedule, chana fertilizer schedule per acre, chana wilt control, chana pod borer control, Helicoverpa organic control, chana seed rate, desi and kabuli chana, rabi pulse farming, organic chana farming, chana nipping, chana yield per acre.

Utkarsh Agrochem Pvt. Ltd. 177–179, Golden Plaza, Behind Kamrej Police Station, NH No. 48, Taluka Kamrej, District Surat – 394185 · Customer care: 75678 33044 · Product information and offline orders: 88665 43678, 90162 08648 · www.utkarshagro.com

This schedule follows the recommendations of ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research (Kanpur), ICRISAT, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya (Jabalpur), Punjab Agricultural University and other state agricultural universities, together with the experience of chana growers and Utkarsh field experience. Use only pesticides registered for chickpea and follow the label. Results depend on variety, season, soil and care.

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