National Pulses Research Centre, VAMBAN

1. About the station

• The National Pulses Research Centre under the aegis of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University was established in 1979 at Vambam in Pudukkottai district.

• It is the lead centre for the research on pulses in the state.

• This is one of the identified centres under All India Co ordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Pulses under Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

• The station comprises of an area of 127.46 ha with 79.47 ha under tree crops, 2.27 ha under annual crops, 6.68 ha under roads and 4.04 ha under buildings.

• The soil type of this centre is red lateritic and acidic (pH 4.7-6.5).

• The average maximum temperature is 37.8^o C and the minimum temperature is 20.7^oC with annual mean rainfall of 881 mm in 45 rainy days.

• Since its inception, the centre has made significant progress in all spheres of pulses research to improve the yield, stability and food quality of the major pulse crops suited for the rainfed and less fertile soils in the state.

Location

• The centre is situated 12 km away from Pudukkottai on the Pudukkottai-Pattukkottaimain road
  

 2. Mandate

• To evolve high yielding, pest and disease resistant pulse varieties.

• To evolve technologies for maximizing productivity by proper agronomic management practices in pulses

• To develop technologies for effectively managing the major insect pests and diseases of pulses

3.Technology Developed

Crop Improvement

Thirteen pulse varieties viz., blackgram (5 Nos), greengram (3 Nos), redgram (3 Nos) and cowpea (2 Nos) and a millet variety have been released from this centre.

Crop Management

• Under red-lateritic soil condition, sowing pulses in the second week of July increases the grain yield to the tune of 25 per cent.

• Application of 25 kg and 12.5 kg of potash in irrigated and rainfed pulses respectively along with the recommended dose of NP and sulphur @20 kh/ha increased 10-15 per cent of the yield of blackgram and greengram.

• Application of zinc sulphate @ 25kg/ha in addition to recommended N,P, K and S boosted the pulses yield by 18 percent

• Pre-emergence application of the weedicide fluchoralin (1.5 l/ha) or pendimethalin (2.0 l/ha) is highly effective in managing broad leaved weeds.

• Seed pelleting with DAP 40g and gypsum 250g/kg of seed improve  the early vigour and crop stand in the red lateritic soil.

• Application of 2% DAP foliar spray at flowering and 15 days later significantly increases 10 per cent of grain yield in blackgram and greengram.

• Combined inoculation of Rhizobium, Phosphobacteria  and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria  increases 17 per cent of grain yield in blackgram and greengram.

Crop Protection

• Integrated pest management module for pod borer complex in Redgram

• Use of pheromone traps for Helicoverpa armigera @ 12 nos/ha

• Placement of bird perches @ 50 nos/ha

• Spraying of Ha NPV @ 1.5 x 10 12  poly occlusion bodies (POb)/ha (1.5 l/ha)

• Spraying of NSKE 5% or indixacarb 14.5 SC @ 0.75 ml/l at the time of flowering or early pod formation stage

• Integrated pest management module for blackgram

• Seed treatment with dimethoate @ 5ml/kg and Pseudomonas flourescens  (Pf1) @ 10 g/kg of seed.

• Use of pheromone traps for Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera litura  @ 12 nos/ha

• Placement of bird perches @ 50 nos/ha

• Spraying of NSKE 5% at the time of flowering or early pod formation stage.

Green Gram

Black Gram	Cow pea

Blister beetle  beneficial insect in redgram field	Heliothos armigera infection in redgram pod

Contact us

The Professor and Head
National Pulses Research Centre
Vamban 622 303, 
Pudukkottai
Office:04322-296447
e-mail: arsvamban@tnau.ac.in

Updated on Dec 2013