🌾 Horse Gram Farming (Kulthi Ki Kheti) – A Complete Step-by-Step Guide for Profitable Cultivation

Horse Gram Farming is one of the best options for Indian farmers who want low cost, low water use, and high profit. Horse gram, locally called Kulthi, Kulth, Gahat, Hurali, Garahat, Hulga, etc., is one of the oldest pulse crops of India. It is widely grown in tribal, hilly, and drought-prone areas because it grows well even in poor soil and low rainfall.

Horse gram is not only used as food (dal and vegetables) but also as cattle feed. Being a legume crop, it improves soil fertility by adding nitrogen to the soil. This also increases the yield of the next crop. 🌱

❤️ 1. Health Benefits of Horse Gram

Horse gram is not just a crop – it is a natural medicine.

✔ Helps dissolve kidney stones
✔ Improves urinary health
✔ Supports weight loss
✔ Gives relief in cough and asthma
✔ Purifies blood
✔ Useful for diabetes control
✔ Reduces body swelling
✔ Strengthens digestion

This is why the demand for horse gram is growing in health-based food markets.

🧬 2. Scientific Information

• Botanical Name: Macrotyloma uniflorum
• Family: Fabaceae
• Crop Type: Nitrogen-fixing legume

Horse Gram Farming improves soil health naturally.

🌤️ 3. Climate and Temperature

Horse gram is a drought-tolerant crop.

✔ Best temperature: 25°C – 30°C
✔ Germination starts at 22°C
✔ Can tolerate up to 35°C
✔ Grows well even in low rainfall areas

🌱 4. Soil Requirement

✔ Sandy loam soil is best
✔ Soil should be well drained
✔ pH value: 6.5 – 7.5
✔ Can grow in poor and weak soil also

This makes Horse Gram Farming perfect for dry and marginal land.

🌾 5. Best Varieties of Horse Gram

⭐ Birsa Kulthi

• Duration: 90–100 days
• Yield: 8–10 quintals/acre
• Less disease

⭐ DB-7

• Duration: 90 days
• Yield: 10 quintals/acre
• Best for South India

⭐ Coimbatore

• Duration: 95 days
• Yield: 10–12 quintals/acre

⭐ VL Gahat-8

• Suitable for North India
• Yield: 7–8 quintals/acre

🌱 6. Seed Rate per Acre

✔ For grain: 10–12 kg
✔ For fodder: 16–18 kg

Seed Treatment
Treat seeds with Carbendazim 2 g per kg of seed to avoid diseases.

🚜 7. Field Preparation

✔ 2 deep ploughings
✔ Add 6 tons of farmyard manure
✔ Level the field
✔ Soil should be loose and fine

🌿 8. Sowing Method

✔ Row to row: 1 foot
✔ Plant to plant: 6 cm
✔ Sowing depth: 3 cm

Best Sowing Time:
📅 July to August

🧪 9. Fertilizer Management (Per Acre)

✔ Farmyard manure: 6 tons
✔ DAP: 35 kg
✔ Urea: 20 kg

💧 10. Irrigation

✔ At flowering stage
✔ At pod formation stage
✔ Avoid waterlogging

Horse Gram Farming needs only 2–3 irrigations.

🌾 11. Weed Control

First 30–40 days are very important.

✔ Spray Pendimethalin just after sowing
✔ First weeding after 20–25 days
✔ Second weeding after 40 days
✔ Keep field clean

This helps plants get full nutrition and grow strong.

🐛 12. Pest and Disease Management

Main Problems

✔ Termites
✔ White fly
✔ Pod borer
✔ Yellow mosaic
✔ Root rot

Control Methods

✔ Spray neem oil every 7 days
✔ Use Dimethoate if needed
✔ Avoid waterlogging
✔ Remove infected plants

Timely control can save up to 40% of crop loss.

⏳ 13. Crop Duration

✔ Early varieties: 90 days
✔ Normal varieties: 100–120 days

✂️ 14. Harvesting & Threshing

When leaves turn yellow and start falling:

✔ Cut the plants
✔ Dry in sun for 2–3 days
✔ Thresh after drying
✔ Clean the grains

📦 15. Yield per Acre

✔ Normal farming: 7–8 quintals
✔ With good care: 10–12 quintals

💰 16. Market Price & Profit

✔ Average price: ₹4000 per quintal
✔ Average yield: 8 quintals

Income Calculation

• Total income: ₹32,000
• Total cost: ₹9,000
  👉 Net profit: ₹23,000 per acre

This is why Horse Gram Farming is highly profitable.

🏠 17. Storage

✔ Dry grains properly
✔ Store in jute or plastic bags
✔ Keep in cool and dry place
✔ Protect from moisture and insects

🏛️ 18. Government Schemes

✔ National Pulses Mission
✔ Seed subsidy
✔ Crop insurance
✔ Kisan Credit Card

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

1️⃣ Which is the best month to sow Horse Gram?
📅 July to August is the best time for sowing Horse Gram Farming.

2️⃣ How much seed is needed per acre?
🌱 10 to 12 kg seeds per acre are enough for good crop growth.

3️⃣ In how many days Horse Gram is ready?
⏳ Horse Gram crop matures in 90 to 120 days, depending on the variety.

4️⃣ Which is the best Horse Gram variety?
🌾 Birsa Kulthi, DB-7 and Coimbatore are the best high-yielding varieties.

5️⃣ How many times irrigation is required?
💧 2 to 3 irrigations are sufficient for Horse Gram Farming.

6️⃣ How much is the cost per acre?
💰 The average cost is around ₹8,000 to ₹10,000 per acre.

7️⃣ What is the market price of Horse Gram?
📦 The market rate is usually ₹3,500 to ₹4,500 per quintal.

8️⃣ What are the major diseases?
🐛 The most common problems are
✔ Yellow Mosaic
✔ Root Rot

9️⃣ Can Horse Gram grow in poor soil?
🌱 Yes! Horse Gram Farming grows very well even in weak and dry soil.

🔟 Is Horse Gram suitable for organic farming?
🍀 Yes, Horse Gram is 100% suitable for organic cultivation.

🌟 Conclusion

Horse Gram Farming is a golden opportunity for Indian farmers. With low investment, less water, low risk, and high profit, it is perfect for dry and rain-fed areas. If you want better income from your farm, horse gram is a smart choice. 🌾

👉 For more pulse crop farming guides, keep exploring our website and grow smarter every season.

Reference Websites:
👉 Indian Institute of Horticultural Research
👉 Krishi Vigyan Kendra Portal