Indian farmers are increasingly turning to climate smart crops that protect soil, save water, and stabilise incomes. Pulses are especially valuable because they fix atmospheric nitrogen, lower fertiliser use, and fit neatly into short growing windows. This guide presents the Top 10 Pulses for Sustainable Cultivation in India and explains how each crop supports resilient and profitable farming. You will find notes on climate suitability, soil enrichment, input efficiency, and market use. From hardy rainfed options to short duration pulse rotations, these choices help reduce risk, diversify income, and increase productivity with lower environmental impact.
#1 Chickpea climate resilience and nitrogen services
Chickpea thrives in post rainy season conditions with limited irrigation, making it ideal for dryland systems. Its deep roots scavenge leftover moisture while nodules fix nitrogen that benefits the following cereal crop. Seed priming, timely sowing, and resistant varieties reduce wilt and pod borer damage and improve stand establishment. Residue incorporated after harvest improves soil organic matter and water holding capacity. Chickpea also suits rice fallows in eastern India where short duration types fit after paddy. With strong domestic demand for dal and flour, the crop balances ecological gains with steady income.
#2 Pigeon pea hardy perennial mindset in annual fields
Pigeon pea copes well with heat and intermittent drought through a robust taproot and canopy that shades soil. It fixes significant nitrogen, reduces fertiliser needs for rotations, and breaks pest cycles when alternated with cereals. Intercropping with cotton, millets, or soybean spreads risk and uses space and sunlight efficiently. Plant wider rows to allow airflow and mechanical weeding, and retain prunings as mulch to curb evaporation. Medium duration types suit rainfed belts, while extra early lines fit short monsoon windows. Strong pulse demand and fodder value support whole farm profitability.
#3 Lentil cool season soil builder
Lentil performs well in cool, dry winters on light to medium soils, making it a dependable rabi pulse. It delivers reliable nitrogen fixation and leaves behind fine root biomass that enhances aggregation and infiltration. Short stature and quick maturity allow double cropping after rice or maize with minimal tillage, lowering fuel use. Choose varieties tolerant to rust and wilt, and use balanced basal fertiliser with micronutrients where soils are low. Early sowing in residual moisture reduces irrigation demand. Grain sells easily for dal, while straw offers nutritious fodder for small ruminants, widening benefits.
#4 Green gram short duration break crop
Green gram matures in 60 to 75 days, making it a versatile option between main crops and in rice fallows. It improves soil biology through active nitrogen fixation and fine residue that decomposes quickly. Sowing on raised beds or broad beds enhances drainage and reduces disease pressure during monsoon spells. Use certified seed, inoculate with rhizobium, and adopt need based irrigation to optimise water productivity. As a catch crop after wheat or potato, it restores soil and adds cash flow within the same year. Sprouting and dal markets provide stable prices and steady demand.
#5 Black gram rainfed income stabiliser
Black gram tolerates intermittent dry spells and fits kharif, rabi, and summer windows across diverse soils. It fixes nitrogen efficiently and suppresses weeds with rapid early growth when sown at the right density. Adopt line sowing for easier weeding, and use trap crops and pheromone monitoring to manage pod borer sustainably. With modest nutrient needs and limited irrigation, the crop lowers input costs while maintaining yield potential. Residue incorporation improves soil carbon and reduces bulk density. Split harvests at physiological maturity minimise shattering losses, delivering marketable grain quality for processors.
#6 Cowpea multi purpose legume for farms and homesteads
Cowpea offers grain, fodder, and green manure from the same crop, boosting whole farm nutrient cycling. It thrives on sandy and marginal lands under heat, making it reliable where resources are limited. Early maturing varieties allow relay sowing or intercropping with maize, sorghum, or millets to spread risk. Drip irrigation and mulching improve water use efficiency, while biofertilisers enhance nodulation. Harvest young pods for vegetable markets or leave to dry for grain sales depending on price signals. As a living cover, cowpea shades soil, reduces erosion, and supports beneficial insects that curb pests.
#7 Horse gram tough performer on poor soils
Horse gram delivers dependable harvests on shallow, gravelly, and low fertility soils where other crops struggle. Its exceptional drought tolerance and low input needs make it an anchor for climate risk management. The crop fixes nitrogen, improves topsoil structure, and leaves a clean field for the next cereal or oilseed. Seed treatment and timely weed control are the main interventions, keeping costs predictable and manageable. Grain has steady regional demand for traditional foods and livestock feed. With minimal irrigation and careful timing around local rains, horse gram turns marginal land into productive ground.
#8 Moth bean desert friendly soil protector
Moth bean spreads as a ground cover that protects soil from wind and water erosion in arid and semi arid zones. Its prostrate habit conserves moisture while nodules add nitrogen for the following crop. The crop thrives on sandy soils and sets grain under high temperatures that would damage many legumes. Minimal tillage and residue retention suit this system and reduce field operations. Local markets buy grain and fodder, and forage cuts can bridge feed gaps for small ruminants. With careful weeding during early growth, moth bean delivers resilience and reliable returns under harsh climates.
#9 Field pea cool belt rotation strengthener
Field pea fits well in cool north and central Indian winters and partners nicely with wheat in rotations. It improves soil nitrogen status, supports beneficial microbes, and leaves friable tilth for the next crop. Early sowing in conserved moisture reduces irrigation needs and shortens exposure to terminal heat. Choose powdery mildew tolerant lines, use clean seed, and practice timely harvesting to preserve colour and quality. Pea straw is valued fodder, raising overall system returns. By lowering fertiliser use and adding a saleable pulse, field pea strengthens both soil health and farmer income.
#10 Rajma high value pulse for hills and plains
Rajma fetches premium prices in urban markets and suits both hill valleys and irrigated plains with good drainage. It contributes nitrogen through symbiosis and leaves residues that enrich soil organic matter. Raised beds, timely staking for climbing types, and careful irrigation scheduling protect roots and minimise disease. Balanced nutrition with molybdenum and zinc where deficient sustains nodulation and pod fill. As part of maize or rice based rotations, rajma diversifies income and spreads labour across seasons. Quality seed, pest scouting, and clean harvesting produce attractive beans that secure strong buyer interest.