This station was established in the year 1965-66 as small research scheme. But expansion took place after the establishment of All India Coordinated Pulses Improvement at Junagadh during 1975-76. This station became mandatory centre for chickpea research at national level under AICRP on chickpea in 1993. It also recognized as sub centre of pigeonpea under AICRP on pigeonpea project in the year 2001. The center is engaged with applied research in crop improvement, agronomy, entomology and plant pathology disciplines with respect to chickpea, pigeonpea, mungbean and urdbean. Moreover this center is also collaborating with ICAR, ICRISAT and other agencies for chickpea and pigeonpea improvement programme. Besides research activities, this centre is engaged in the production of .nucleus and breeder seed of chickpea and pigeonpea. Scientists also participate in P. G. research and guiding of P. G. students.

1. Collection, evaluation and maintenance of germplasm of different pulse crops like chickpea, pigeonpea, mungbean and urdbean.

2. Development of varieties of above crops with high yield potential, better grain quality and tolerance to different biotic and abiotic stress.

3. Development of  location specific production and protection technologies.

4. Dissemination of technology to the farmers.

5. Monitoring the diseases & insect pests. Screening of genotypes against diseases & key insects and integrated management of insect pests of pulses.

6. Seed production of improved varieties of pulses.

7. Conduct of Front Line Demonstration in chickpea and pigeonpea.

1. To Collect, evaluate and maintain the germplasm of mandate crops viz; chickpea, pigeonpea, mungbean and urdbean.

2. To enrich the germplasm for developing high yielding disease and insect pest resistant and better grain quality varieties.

3. To develop varieties of above crops having high yield potential better grain quality and resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses.

4. To evaluate newly developed genotypes under various environments to find out their suitability.

5. To develop location specific production technology in pulses.

6. To carry-out screening and testing of newly developed genotypes against various diseases and insects and workout effective as well as economical control measures.

7. To produce and distribute good quality seed of chickpea, pigeonpea, mungbean and urdbean varieties. 

8. To disseminate production and protection technology to the farmers by using various extension tools.

1. 14 ha. cultivated land

2.  One well three borewell for irrigation

3.  Tractor and all important Farm implements

4.  Two pair of bullock

5. Office building in campus

6. Two Godown in Farm

CHICKPEA

Following six desi chickpea varieties have been developed, released and notified by this station for cultivation.

(A) FLDS ON CHICKPEA :

For the popularization of newly released chickpea variety among farmers along with improved package of practices, 10 FLDs were conducted in different villages of Saurashtra region in each year. Results clearly indicated the superiority of improved package of practices over farmers’ practices. Farmers got yield advantage ranging from 11.97 to 21.62 per cent. Another advantage of FLD was observed in the awareness of  superiority of new variety GJG 3 and GG 5. Some low cost technology like seed treatment and 2% spray of urea as well as application of bio agents like Trichoderma also became familiar among farmers. FLD farmers sold seed of GJG 3 and GG 5 to neighbour farmers in the next year. This way FLDs are useful in spread of new variety.

(B) FLDS ON GROUNDNUT-PIGEONPEA RELAY CROPPING SYSTEM :

Impact of FLDs:

    The rainfall in Saurashtra is erratic and scanty. The major groundnut crop is always under high risk. Farmers have adopted pigeonpea as a relay crop in groundnut because of the following reasons.

1. It does not reduce the area of groundnut as pigeonpea is being sown between two rows of groundnut in the month of August.

2. It does not decrease the yield of groundnut; hence the income from pigeonpea is treated as an additional income.

3. It covers the risk of major crop of groundnut in irregular monsoon and scarcity condition.

4. It provides valuable nutritive fodder for cattle, which is an essential requirement for the farmers of Saurashtra.

5. It can be grown with limited irrigation facilities in which any other winter crop can not be grown.

    Since last two decades more than 300 FLDs were conducted on groundnut-pigeonpea relay cropping system in six districts of Gujarat. The tested pigeonpea varieties were BDN 2, BSMR 853, BSMR 736 and GT 101. Pigeonpea varieties BDN 2 and GT 101 were highly popular among the farmers as these varieties require only 2-3 irrigations after end of the monsoon. FLD farmers harvested on an average 1299 kg/ha seed yield. Pigeonpea as a relay crop in groundnut was found highly remunerative without any adverse effect on sole groundnut yield. The market price of pigeonpea is highly attractive hence farmers adopting this system quickly. Pigeonpea variety GJP 1 has been demonstrated in FLDs during kharif 2017-18. In kharif 2017-18 variety GJP 1 produced on an average 1793 kg/ha seed yield in varietal demonstrations which was 26.09% higher over farmers’ practices. Over all farmers got 13.43 to 26.09% increase in seed yield. The performance was appreciated by the farmers of FLDs. This variety is become popular among farmer.

Effect of biofertilizer along with molybdenum application on yield of chickpea : 

      The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone growing irrigated chickpea are advised to treat seeds with Rhizobium culture @ 25 g/kg seed + phosphate solubilizing bacterial culture (Bacillus subtilis) 30 g/kg seed along with recommended dose of fertilizers (20:40 N:P2O5 kg/ha) for securing higher yield and net return. Application of molybdenumin chickpea was not found advantageous.

Evaluation of chickpea varieties under different dates of sowing under irrigated condition :

     The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone growing irrigated chickpea are advised to sow the crop during first fortnight of November (mean minimum temperature 19.9 °C and mean maximum temperature 34.7 °C) for securing higher yield and net return.

Effect of different irrigation scheduling and irrigation interval through drip on chickpea :

    The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone growing chickpea under drip irrigation system are recommended to irrigate the crop with drip system at 0.8 ETc at 5 days interval through drip after two flood irrigations for getting higher yield, net return and 27 % saving of irrigation water. The system details are as under:

Irrigation management through critical stages of chickpea :

    The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone interested to grow chickpea under water crisis condition are recommended to irrigate the chickpea crop at four critical stages like branching, flowering, pod initiation and grain filling apart from two common irrigations, first immediately after sowing and second at 6-7 days after sowing for getting higher yield and for saving 17 per cent of irrigation water.

Effect of multi-micronutrient formulations on pigeonpea :

   The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone -VII growing pigeonpea are advised to apply micronutrients on soil test basis or multi-micronutrient mixture Grade-V @ 40 kg/ha besides recommended dose of fertilizer (25:50:0 N:P2O5:K2O kg/ha) to get higher yield and net returns.

Effect of different organic, inorganic and bio-fertilizers on groundnut-pigeonpea relay cropping system :

    The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone following groundnut ´ pigeonpea (2:1) relay cropping system are advised to apply recommended dose of fertilizers to both the crops to obtain higher yield and net returns or 50% RDF + FYM 5 t /ha along with seed treatment of Rhizobium and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (each 25-30 g/kg seed) to groundnut only to reduce the dose of chemical fertilizers.

Optimizing spacing for medium duration pigeonpea varieties under pigeonpea + urdbean inter cropping system :

    The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone adopting pigeonpea + uradbean (without fertilizer) inter cropping system are advised to sow pigeonpea at 120 cm x 30 cm spacing and two rows of urdbean in between two rows of pigeonpea for getting higher yield and net return.

Weed management in kharif urdbean :

   The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone growing kharif urdbean are recommended to apply quizalofop-ethyl 40 g/ha (5 EC 16 ml/10 lit water) at 20 days after sowing (DAS) and  hand weeding at 40 DAS for obtaining higher yield and net realization as well as effective weed management.

Efficacy of new molecules against Helicoverpa armigera in chickpea :

   For effective and economic control of pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) in chickpea crop, farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone are advised to apply two sprays of chlorantraniliprole 20 SC 0.003% (1.5 ml/ 10 liter water; 15 g a.i./ha) or emamectin benzoate 5 SG 0.001% (2 g/ 10 liter water; 5 g a.i./ha). First spray should be applied at 50% flowering and second at 15 days after first spray. The PHI for these insecticides is 27 days.

Testing bio-efficacy of certain insecticides against pod borer complex on pigeonpea :

   The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone are advised to apply two sprays of spinosad 45 SC 0.009% (2 ml/ 10 litre water; 45 g a.i/ha) or thiodicarb 75 WP 0.075% (10 g/ 10 litre water; 375 g a.i/ha) or flubendiamide 48 SC 0.0096% (2 ml/ 10 litre water; 48 g a.i/ha) or chlorantraniliprole 20 SC 0.003% (1.5 ml/ 10 liter water; 15 g a.i./ha) starting from 50 per cent flowering and second spray at 15 days after first spray for the control of pod borer complex in pigeonpea. The PHI for these insecticides is 30 days.

Evaluation of botanicals, bio-pesticides and insecticides against gram pod borer :

   The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-Climatic Zone growing chickpea are advised to apply alternate spray of HaNPV 2 x 109 POBs/ml (5 ml/10 lit. water) and chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC 0.004% (2 ml/10 lit. water) for effective and economic control of pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) in chickpea crop. First spray to be started at 50% flowering and second at 15 days after first spray. The PHI for chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC is 11 days.

Testing bio-efficacy of certain insecticides against pod borer complex on urdbean :

   Farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic zone are advised to apply two sprays of chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC, 0.006 % (3 ml/ 10 litre water) or flubendiamide 48 SC, 0.0096 % (2 ml/ 10 litre water), first spray at 50 per cent flowering and second at 15 days interval for the control of pod borer complex in urdbean.

   The PHI for chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC is 20 days, whereas 11 days for lubendiamide 48 SC.

Note:- All above papers contains < 6.0 NAAS rating

Quantity of Breeder seed of chickpea produced during 2004-05 to 2017-18