Management factors affecting legumes production in the Indo-Gangetic Plain

Grain legumes are very important in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (1GP) countries for their contribution to human and animal nutrition, as components of indigenous cropping systems, and as restorers of soil fertility. Yields of grain legumes have remained low due to several production constraints. There is a undening gap between the growing demand and production of grain legumes in the IGP. Rice and wheat production has increased significantly over the previous decades but the area and production of grain legumes has gradually declined. Various abiotic, biotic, and socioeconomic constraints can explain the poor performance of these legumes, relative to that of major cereals and cash crops. Previous research on improving grain legumes production in the IGP has been relatively limited and lacking in focus. Efforts to develop, assemble, and evaluate improved production technologies have only been recent. Previous research concentrated mainly on varietal improvement. Factors such as inherently limited yield potential, susceptibility to various pests and diseases, and sensitivity to edaphic and microclimatic changes contribute to large variations in the output of grain legumes from year to year. The problem is therefore highly complex, making it difficult to halt the declining trend of grain legumes (in terms of area and production) unless improved cultural practices ensuring sustainable high yields are developed together with promising cropping patterns. It is concluded that substantial increases in the production of grain legumes in the IGP can be achieved by fine tuning management aspects and thereby increasing total system productivity and sustainability