Cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), popularly known as guar, is an important drought-resistant kharif and summer legume crop of arid and semi-arid regions. It is hardy, fast growing, and capable of tolerating low fertility, moisture stress, and moderate soil salinity.
Cluster bean is valued for multiple purposes—vegetable pods, animal feed, guar gum extraction, green manuring, and fodder production—making it a highly versatile crop for dryland farming systems.
Importance and Uses of Cluster Bean
- Tender pods are used as vegetables
- Seeds are used as high-protein concentrate feed for animals
- Seeds contain 31–43% galactomannan (guar gum), used in:
- Textile industries
- Food processing
- Pharmaceuticals and binding agents
- Used as a green manure crop
- Rapid growth helps in soil cover and erosion control
- Used for silage preparation along with sorghum, maize, etc.
Climate and Soil Requirement for Cluster Bean
Climate
- Well adapted to arid and semi-arid climates
- Highly tolerant to moisture stress
- Requires 150–200 mm well-distributed rainfall during the growing season
- Does not tolerate waterlogging or excessive moisture
Soil
- Grows well on sandy loam to deep clay loam soils
- Soil should be well drained
- Tolerates moderate salinity
- Can grow in soils with pH up to 8.5
- Soils rich in phosphorus, potassium, and calcium are ideal
Land Preparation
- Requires minimum land preparation
- One shallow cultivation of 10–12 cm depth is sufficient in dry farming areas
- One to two harrowings are adequate to prepare the seedbed
Seed Rate and Spacing
Seed rate depends on the method of sowing:
- Broadcasting: 45–50 kg seed/ha
- Line sowing (drilling): 35–40 kg seed/ha
Cluster bean is often grown as a mixed fodder crop with:
- Sorghum
- Pearl millet
- Hybrid napier
- Spear grass
👉 When sown in mixture, seed rate is reduced to half.
- Row spacing: 30–40 cm
Method of Sowing
- Seeds are sown by:
- Broadcasting and mixing with plough or harrow, or
- Line sowing using seed drill
- In dry farming areas, sowing is done in open furrows to improve moisture retention and germination
Nutrient Management
- Apply 10 tonnes of farmyard manure or compost per hectare before sowing
- Recommended basal fertilizer dose:
- Nitrogen (N): 15 kg/ha
- Phosphorus (P₂O₅): 40 kg/ha
- Potassium (K₂O): 20 kg/ha
As a leguminous crop, cluster bean also helps in biological nitrogen fixation.
Water Management
- Kharif crop: Generally does not require irrigation unless there is a prolonged dry spell
- Summer crop: Requires irrigation depending on soil type and climate
- Total water requirement: 20–25 cm per hectare
- Number of irrigations: 4–5 irrigations
Avoid excessive irrigation as the crop is sensitive to waterlogging.
Weed Management
Cluster bean grows vigorously and suppresses weeds under good management.
- 1–2 hoeings and weedings depending on weed intensity ensure better growth
Chemical Weed Control (Pure Stand)
- Pre-emergence application of Atrazine @ 0.5 kg a.i./ha under irrigated conditions
- Broad-leaved weeds can be controlled by spraying 2,4-D @ 1.0 kg/ha at 5–6 weeks after sowing
Harvesting Management
- For fodder purpose, harvest:
- At boot leaf stage, or
- Immediately after initiation of flowering
- Harvesting beyond 50% flowering should be avoided because:
- Crude protein decreases
- Crude fibre increases
Multi-Cut Management
- First cut: Boot leaf stage
- Subsequent cuts: At 35–40 day intervals
Yield of Cluster Bean
- Single cut system:
- 350–400 quintals of green fodder per hectare
- Multi-cut system:
- Yield may reach up to 700 quintals per hectare
Conclusion
Cluster bean cultivation is highly suitable for dryland and fodder-based farming systems due to its drought tolerance, multiple uses, and low input requirement. With proper nutrient management, timely harvesting, and weed control, farmers can obtain high fodder yield while improving soil health and farm sustainability.