Consider the following crops of India: 1. Cowpea 2. Green gram 3. Pigeon pea Which of the above is/are used as pulse, fodder and green manure?
Contents28
- A1 and 2 only
- B2 only
- C1 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3
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Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3
All three crops — cowpea, green gram (moong), and pigeon pea (arhar/tur) — are leguminous crops that serve triple purposes:
As pulses — they are protein-rich food crops consumed across India.
As fodder — their plant matter is used as animal feed.
As green manure — being legumes, they fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil through root nodules, enriching soil fertility when ploughed back.
This is why leguminous crops are important in crop rotation.
Answer: 1, 2 and 3.
All three crops are legumes that fix nitrogen in soil through root nodules, making them valuable for sustainable agriculture as pulse, fodder, and green manure.
The question tests understanding of crop rotation and sustainable farming practices, where legumes play a crucial role in maintaining soil fertility without chemical fertilizers.
Cowpea Cultivation & Uses
Geography Cowpea
Cowpea: Triple-Purpose Leguminous Crop
Cowpea serves three purposes: pulse (food), fodder (animal feed), and green manure (soil enrichment)
Drought-resistant legume grown in kharif season across semi-arid regions
Scientific name: Vigna unguiculata, also called black-eyed pea or lobia
What is Cowpea
Cowpea is a drought-resistant leguminous crop widely grown in India's semi-arid regions. Known locally as lobia or black-eyed pea, it belongs to the Vigna family and thrives in poor soils where other crops struggle.
Triple Uses of Cowpea
Use | Part Used | Purpose | Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
Pulse | Seeds/grains | Human food | High protein content (20-25%) |
Fodder | Leaves & stems | Animal feed | Nutritious feed for livestock |
Green manure | Whole plant | Soil enrichment | Fixes atmospheric nitrogen in soil |
Cultivation Features
Kharif crop sown during monsoon (June-July) and harvested in September-October
Drought tolerance makes it suitable for rainfed agriculture in arid regions
Short duration crop (60-90 days) allowing multiple cropping
Grows well in sandy loam soils with good drainage
Question Connection
This question tests knowledge that leguminous crops like cowpea serve multiple agricultural purposes beyond just food production. The nitrogen fixation ability is key to understanding why legumes work as green manure.
Don't assume pulses are only for human consumption - they serve as fodder and green manure too
All legumes fix nitrogen, not just specific varieties - this applies to cowpea, green gram, and pigeon pea equally
Green Gram Cultivation & Uses
Geography Green gram
Green Gram (Moong): Versatile Leguminous Crop
Green gram (moong) serves as pulse, fodder, and green manure crop
Short-duration crop (60-70 days) grown in both kharif and rabi seasons
Scientific name: Vigna radiata, widely consumed as moong dal in India
About Green Gram
Green gram or moong is one of India's most important pulse crops. Its scientific name Vigna radiata places it in the same family as cowpea, and it shares similar multi-purpose characteristics.
Multiple Applications
Application | Form Used | Benefits | Economic Value |
|---|---|---|---|
Pulse crop | Split dal, whole grain | High protein (24%), easy digestion | Major commercial crop |
Fodder crop | Green biomass | Nutritious animal feed | Additional income for farmers |
Green manure | Whole plant ploughed in | Nitrogen enrichment | Reduces fertilizer costs |
Agricultural Characteristics
Dual season crop - grown in both kharif (June-September) and rabi (October-December)
Short maturity period (60-70 days) allows intercropping with cereals
Low water requirement makes it suitable for water-scarce regions
Root nodules with Rhizobium bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen
Major Producing States
Rajasthan - largest producer (accounts for ~40% of national production)
Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh - other major producing states
Grown across semi-arid and sub-humid regions of India
Green gram is both kharif and rabi crop - don't limit it to one season only
Moong and green gram are the same crop - UPSC may use either term
Pigeon Pea Cultivation & Uses
Geography Pigeon pea
Pigeon Pea (Arhar/Tur): India's Key Pulse Crop
Pigeon pea (arhar/tur) serves triple purpose as pulse, fodder, and green manure
India's second-largest pulse crop after chickpea, contributing ~15% of total pulse production
Long-duration crop (150-180 days) grown primarily in kharif season
Pigeon Pea Overview
Pigeon pea, known as arhar in Hindi and tur in Marathi, is scientifically called Cajanus cajan. It's a major kharif pulse crop that plays a crucial role in India's food security and crop rotation systems.
Three-Fold Utility
Purpose | Part Utilized | Usage Details | Agricultural Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
Pulse | Mature seeds | Consumed as tur/arhar dal | High protein content (20-22%) |
Fodder | Leaves, pods, stems | Cattle and goat feed | Provides additional farm income |
Green manure | Young plants | Ploughed into soil | Enhances soil nitrogen content |
Cultivation Features
Kharif crop sown in June-July, harvested in December-January
Long-duration variety (150-180 days) compared to other pulses
Deep root system helps in soil structure improvement
Intercropping commonly done with cotton, sugarcane, and cereals
Major Producing States
State | Production Share | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
Maharashtra | ~25% | Largest producer, ideal climate |
Karnataka | ~15% | High productivity per hectare |
Madhya Pradesh | ~12% | Expanding cultivation area |
Uttar Pradesh | ~10% | Traditional growing region |
Question Insight
The question tests understanding that all leguminous crops share the nitrogen-fixing property, making them valuable as green manure. Pigeon pea's long growing period makes it particularly effective for soil improvement.
Arhar, tur, and pigeon pea are the same crop - UPSC uses all three names interchangeably
Don't confuse with red gram - it's another name for pigeon pea, not a different crop
Nitrogen Fixation in Legumes
Geography green manure
Nitrogen Fixation: How Legumes Enrich Soil
Rhizobium bacteria in legume root nodules convert atmospheric nitrogen to plant-usable form
Process makes legumes valuable as green manure for soil fertility improvement
Symbiotic relationship benefits both bacteria (get food) and plants (get nitrogen)
The Nitrogen Challenge
Atmospheric air is 78% nitrogen, but plants cannot use this gaseous form directly. Nitrogen fixation is the biological process that converts atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into ammonia (NH₃) that plants can absorb and use.
Nitrogen Fixation Process
%%{init: {"flowchart": {"wrappingWidth": 460}}}%%
flowchart TD
s1["`****Rhizobium Infection****
Bacteria enter legume root hairs and multiply`"]
s2["`****Nodule Formation****
Root cells swell to form nitrogen-fixing nodules`"]
s3["`****Nitrogen Conversion****
Enzyme nitrogenase converts N₂ to NH₃ (ammonia)`"]
s4["`****Plant Utilization****
Ammonia converted to amino acids and proteins`"]
s5["`****Soil Enrichment****
Excess nitrogen released into soil when plant decays`"]
s1 --> s2
s2 --> s3
s3 --> s4
s4 --> s5Benefits of Nitrogen Fixation
Beneficiary | Direct Benefit | Long-term Impact |
|---|---|---|
Legume Plant | Gets nitrogen for protein synthesis | Higher yield and quality |
Rhizobium Bacteria | Receives carbohydrates from plant | Protected environment for growth |
Soil | Enriched with nitrogen compounds | Improved fertility for next crops |
Farmers | Reduced fertilizer requirement | Lower input costs, sustainable farming |
Agricultural Significance
Crop rotation with legumes reduces need for chemical nitrogen fertilizers
Green manuring involves ploughing young legume plants back into soil
Biological nitrogen fixation contributes ~65% of nitrogen used by crops globally
Nodulated roots are visible indicators of active nitrogen fixation
Root Nodule Structure
Source: ScienceDirect.com — Root Nodule - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics · www.sciencedirect.com
All legumes fix nitrogen, not just specific ones - applies to peas, beans, groundnut, etc.
Symbiotic relationship - both bacteria and plant benefit, it's not parasitism
Nitrogenase enzyme works only in oxygen-free environment inside nodules
Leguminous Crops in India
Geography pulse fodder
Leguminous Crops: India's Protein Foundation
India is world's largest pulse producer (~25% global production) and consumer
Leguminous crops include pulses, oilseeds like groundnut, and fodder crops like berseem
Provide 20-25% protein content, crucial for vegetarian population's nutrition
India's Legume Landscape
Leguminous crops form the backbone of India's protein security. With the world's largest vegetarian population, India depends heavily on these nitrogen-fixing crops for both nutrition and sustainable agriculture.
Major Leguminous Crops by Season
Season | Crop | Local Name | Key States |
|---|---|---|---|
Kharif | Green gram | Moong | Rajasthan, Odisha, Maharashtra |
Kharif | Pigeon pea | Arhar/Tur | Maharashtra, Karnataka, MP |
Kharif | Cowpea | Lobia | Rajasthan, Haryana, UP |
Rabi | Chickpea | Chana | MP, Rajasthan, UP, Maharashtra |
Rabi | Field pea | Matar | UP, MP, Haryana |
Rabi | Black gram | Urad | MP, UP, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh |
Types of Leguminous Crops
# Leguminous Crops
## **Pulses**
- Gram (Chana)
- Pigeon pea (Arhar)
- Green gram (Moong)
- Black gram (Urad)
- Field pea
- Cowpea
## **Oilseeds**
- Groundnut
- Soybean
## **Fodder Crops**
- Berseem
- Lucerne
- Cowpea (fodder variety)
## **Cash Crops**
- Groundnut (oil)
- Soybean (oil + meal)Agricultural Importance
Crop rotation with cereals breaks pest cycles and improves soil health
Rainfed agriculture - most pulses grow in low rainfall areas (300-700mm)
Intercropping with cotton, sugarcane provides additional farm income
Drought tolerance makes them suitable for semi-arid regions
India's Pulse Production Challenges
Challenge | Impact | Government Response |
|---|---|---|
Low productivity | Yield gap compared to global average | National Food Security Mission |
Price volatility | Farmer income uncertainty | Minimum Support Price for pulses |
Import dependence | ~15-20% domestic demand met by imports | Pulse production promotion schemes |
Climate sensitivity | Yield fluctuations due to rainfall | Drought-resistant varieties development |
Groundnut and soybean are legumes but primarily grown as oilseeds, not pulses
All pulse crops are legumes, but not all legumes are pulse crops
India is largest producer but also largest importer of pulses due to high consumption