Urad bean cultivation is commonly practiced in all districts of the state, particularly in the regions of Lucknow, Faizabad, Jhansi, Chitrakoot, Kanpur, and Bareilly, where it is grown extensively.

Climate and Temperature:

Urad beans thrive best in warm climates. They require moderate rainfall, with optimal temperatures ranging between 25°C and 35°C during the growing season.

Water Demand: Proper drainage is essential for urad bean cultivation. The crop requires adequate moisture, especially during the flowering and pod development stages.

Soil: Well-drained sandy loam soil is ideal for urad bean cultivation. The soil should be thoroughly tilled to prepare a fine seedbed.

Major Varieties: Several varieties of urad beans are cultivated, each varying in maturity period and yield potential:

Variety	Maturity Period (Days)	Seed Rate (kg/hectare)	Row Spacing (cm)	Average Yield (quintals/hectare)	Suitable Region
I.P.U.-94-1 (North)	75-80	15	30	12-15	Suitable for late sowing in Zaid and Kharif seasons
Panta U-35	70-75	15	30	10-12	Throughout Uttar Pradesh
Narendra Urad-1	70-80	15	30	12-15	Throughout Uttar Pradesh
Panta U-30	70-75	15	30	10-15	Always suitable
Azad Urad-2 (Green Seed)	75-80	15	30	12-13	Throughout Uttar Pradesh
Shekhar 1	80-85	12-15	35	12-15	Always suitable
Shekhar 3	78-80	15	30	12-13	Always suitable
WBU 108	80	15	30	12-14	Always suitable
Panta Urad 31	70-75	15-20	-	12-19	Resistant to mosaic virus

Sowing of Crops:

Early-maturing varieties should be sown between the third week of July and the first week of August. Pure crops like Ta-27 and Ta-65 should be sown in the first week of July as intercrops with Arhar in the second half of June. The sowing of Shekhar varieties should take place between July 25 and August 30. In the western region, sowing can also be done after green fodder.

Suitable Time of Sowing: Timing is crucial for achieving optimal yields. Early-maturing varieties can be sown in the Zaid season.

Field Preparation: Field preparation should involve proper tilling, starting with a moldboard plow, followed by 2-3 tillings with a local plow to prepare a fine seedbed.

Crop Cycle

The crop cycle for urad beans lasts approximately 75 to 85 days from sowing to harvesting, depending on the variety.

Water Management

Irrigation is essential in the absence of rainfall, particularly during pod development.

Weed Management

Weeds should be controlled manually or through herbicides to prevent competition for nutrients and water.

Harvesting

Harvesting should occur when the pods turn brown and dry, ensuring that seeds do not scatter during the process.

Diseases and Disease Prevention

Diseases:

Yellow Mosaic Disease

Identification: Yellow-golden spots appear on the leaves, leading to complete yellowing in severe cases. This disease is transmitted by whiteflies.
Control: Use 1 liter of Dimethoate 30 EC or Methyl-O-Demeton (25 EC) per hectare or cultivate resistant varieties.

Leaf Spot Disease

Identification: Angular brown spots develop on leaves with light brown centers and red-purple margins.
Control: Use 3 kg of Copper Oxychloride per hectare for 2-3 sprays every 10 days, or a single spray of 500 grams of Carbendazim per hectare.

Management of Transmitted Pests:

Choose yellow mosaic-tolerant varieties such as Panta Urad-19 or Narendra Urad-1 for sowing.
Regularly inspect crops for pest infestations and promptly remove affected plants.
Use 20-25 pheromone traps per hectare for monitoring and controlling pest populations.
Apply effective insecticides on leaves once economic damage thresholds are reached.

Urad