Another major area where pulse production can be improved is under irrigated conditions. Because of availability of short duration varieties of pulses including redgram majority of pulses can be fitted into annual rotations. The potential evapotranspiration of Chickpea crop ranged from 200-280 mm, depending on the crop season. Although, most of the chickpea crop in India is grown on moisture conserved in the soil from the rain received prior to planting, the crop responds favourably to supplemental irrigation. Irrigation during the pre-flowering period (at the early stage of vegetative growth on soils having low water holding capacity and at late vegatative phase on heavier and deeper soils) and at early pod filling stage results in increasing yields. Irrigation improves the nodulation and increase the yield by increased pod number/plant. Soil Moisture Being a rabi crop, gram is raised on the moisture conserved in the soil during the monsoon and is, therefore, subjected to deficiency thereoff in unfavourable seasons. Likewise, not too infrequently, excess moisture may be equally harmful as the crop may be affected not only by lack of aeration but also by poor nodulation and low rhizobial activity. Improved cultural practices, like bunding, land levelling, adoption of proper dry farming practices, stirring the soil to improve infiltration, etc., are therefore necessary. Bunding and stirring the soil with the desi plough in the rainy months increases the yield of gram. Stirring with a spring-tine harrow was as effective as that with the desi plough. Irrigation The crop is irrigated once or twice only when the soil gets much dried up in November or December. Further irrigation may not be needed. While irrigating necessary care should be exercised that there should not be waste stagnation.

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