Important Pulses

Pulses belong to the family Fabaceae (formerly Leguminosae) and the subfamily Papilionoideae. They are characterized by their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium bacteria located in their root nodules, making them essential for soil fertility and crop rotation.

Key Botanical Features

• Nitrogen Fixation: Legumes convert atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers.
• Protein Content: Pulses contain 20% to 25% protein, which is double the protein content of wheat and triple that of rice.
• Amino Acid Profile: They are rich in Lysine but generally deficient in sulfur-containing amino acids like Methionine and Cysteine (the opposite of cereals, which is why a cereal-pulse diet is nutritionally balanced).
• Fruit Type: The fruit is botanically defined as a Legume or Pod.

Major Pulse Crops in India

Cajanus cajan (Pigeon Pea / Arhar / Tur)

• Origin: Africa or India.
• Significance: The second most important pulse crop in India. It is a woody perennial shrub but usually grown as an annual.
• Climate: Highly drought-resistant due to a deep taproot system.
• Usage: Primarily used as ‘Dal’; stalks are used for fuel and basket making.

Cicer arietinum (Chickpea / Gram)

• Origin: South-West Asia (Turkey/Afghanistan).
• Significance: The most important pulse crop in India (occupies the largest area and production).
• Types:
  • Desi (Brown Gram): Small, dark seeds with a rough coat; high fiber.
  • Kabuli (Garbanzo): Large, beige seeds with a smooth coat; lower fiber.
• Fact: The leaves contain Malic and Oxalic acids, which give them a sour taste and act as a natural pest repellent.

Vigna radiata (Green Gram / Moong)

• Origin: India.
• Characteristics: A short-duration crop (60-75 days), making it ideal for catch-cropping or intercropping between Kharif and Rabi seasons.
• Nutritional Fact: It is the most easily digestible pulse, often recommended for patients.

Vigna mungo (Black Gram / Urad)

• Origin: India.
• Significance: High phosphoric acid content. It possesses a unique mucilaginous substance that provides the “stickiness” required for preparing South Indian dishes like Idli and Dosa.

Lens culinaris (Lentil / Masur)

• Origin: Mediterranean region.
• Significance: One of the oldest cultivated crops. It is a small, lens-shaped seed.
• Climate: Grown primarily as a Rabi (winter) crop in North India.

Comparative Overview of Common Pulses

Other Economically Important Legumes

Glycine max (Soybean)

• Status: Classified as both a pulse and an oilseed.
• Protein Content: Contains approximately 40-42% protein, the highest among plant sources.
• Oil Content: Contains 18-22% oil.
• Fact: Often called “Poor man’s meat” or “Magic bean.”

Arachis hypogaea (Groundnut / Peanut)

• Botanical Oddity: It exhibits Geocarpy, where the flower stalk (pedicel) elongates after fertilization and pushes the ovary into the soil, where the fruit develops underground.
• Significance: Primarily an oilseed crop in India, but botanically a legume.

UPSC Prelims Facts and Trivia

• Phosphorus Requirement: While pulses fix their own nitrogen, they require a high amount of Phosphorus for root development and efficient nodulation.
• Catch Crops: Green gram (Moong) is often used as a catch crop to fill the gap between two major seasonal crops to maintain soil productivity.
• Inhibitors: Raw pulses contain Trypsin inhibitors (anti-nutritional factors) which are deactivated by cooking or boiling.
• Global Position: India is the largest producer, largest consumer, and largest importer of pulses in the world.
• World Pulses Day: Observed on February 10 to recognize the importance of pulses as a global food.
• Lathyrism: Excessive consumption of Lathyrus sativus (Khesari Dal) can lead to Lathyrism (paralysis of lower limbs) due to the presence of the neurotoxin B-ODAP.