**2. Status of grain legumes under organic farming vs. conventional farming**

Recognizing the importance of clean food for people, the demand for organic products, especially in developed countries, is increasing day by day. Worldwide, 1.8 million farm households in 162 countries practice organic farming on 37 million hectares of land. The largest areas of organically managed agricultural land are Oceania (12.1 million hectares or 33% of the world's organic agricultural land), Europe (10.6 million hectares or 29% organic agricultural land of the world), and Latin America (6.8 million ha or 23%). India now ranks 10th among the top 10 countries in the world for organic certified farmlands. The certified area covers 15% of the cultivated area with 0.72 million ha and the remaining 85% (3.99 million ha) is left in the forest and wilderness to collect small forest products. The total area under organic certification is 4.72 million ha (2013–2014). In terms of production, India has produced about 1.24 million tons of certified organic products including sugarcane, cotton, oilseeds, basmati rice, legumes, spices, tea, fruits, dried fruits, vegetables, coffee, and value-added products and organic products is not limited to food items but it also includes an organic cotton and other daily items, etc. Of all the states, Madhya Pradesh occupies the largest area of organic produce certification, followed by Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan [2].

In India, the main grain legumes are based on pulses and oilseeds and the main crops are lentils, grams, peanuts, soybeans, and pigeons (**Table 1**), but the organic production of organic grain legumes is only 1.44 million tons [3]. Organic production of grain legumes is low as compared to conventionally produced legumes but their production was improved day by day by the implementation of new research modules developed by agricultural institutes. Organic grain legumes not in terms of consumption are better utilized but it is developed as a backbone of agriculture markets in terms of export to other countries at higher rates. Soybeans (70%)

**81**

*Organic Grain Legumes in India: Potential Production Strategies, Perspective, and Relevance*

**Crop Total area (MH) Total production (MT)**

Lentil 1.55 1.61 Gram 10.56 11.23 Groundnut 4.91 9.18 Soybean 10.47 10.98 Pigeonpea 4.43 4.25

topped export products, followed by cereals and millet different from basmati (6%), processed food products (5%), basmati rice (4%), sugar (3%), tea (2%), legumes (1%), nuts (1%), spices (1%) and others (www.opeda.org). The Indian Government launched the National Organic Production Program (NPOP) in 2001. States like Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Sikkim have encouraged organic agriculture based on cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and horticultural crops.

The legume improvement program began in 1917 with selections from different parts of the country, especially pigeonpea. Today, a large number of improved varieties have been published to improve yield, resistance to pests and pests, short duration, synchronized maturation, a small size, etc., adapting to conditions of different farmland. Generally, genetically improved varieties are not allowed in organic farms so selection or crop improvement in legume varieties should be based on adaptability to the agro-climatic conditions of locations and resistant to abiotic and biotic stress should be developed. The old desi varieties have low productivity,

Planting time is the most important non-monetary contribution that significantly affects crop growth and productivity [4]. A delay in planting limits the vegetative growth; a number of fruit-bearing branches or stems branches and leads to forced maturity and poor productivity. At the same time, the incidence of pests, especially the European stem borer (*Helicoverpa armigera*) on green beans [5]. Growing lentils from November 15th to 20th in Tripura gives maximum grain yield compared to early or late planting [6]. Agronomic alteration based on sowing time or date of sowing is a good manipulation on organic farms without the utilization of

In India's, there are two main water management issues: (i) water surplus and subsequent flooding problem during the Kharif season and (ii) water shortage during the Rabi season (November to April). Legumes need adequate drainage because

but their potential towards stress conditions was so good and acceptable.

**3. Crop production techniques in organic grain legumes**

**3.1 Choose the right variety**

**Table 1.**

*Major grain legumes in India.*

**3.2 Sowing time**

any unnecessary source.

**3.3 Water management**

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93077*

*\*Agricultural Statistics at a Glance 2018 (Government of India).*

*Organic Grain Legumes in India: Potential Production Strategies, Perspective, and Relevance DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93077*


#### **Table 1.**

*Legume Crops - Prospects, Production and Uses*

due to improvement in organic markets.

followed by Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan [2].

**farming**

farms with the utilization of natural resources is necessary for the form of sustainable management based on the agronomic alteration of present agriculture scenario.

Legumes have good potential to diversify farming systems on organic farms. Introducing legumes into organic production systems add to improving soil fertility by fixing nitrogen and releasing phosphorus nutrients. Therefore, in legume rotation, the subsequent grain yield and the crude protein concentration in the seed may increase due to excess nitrogen provided by the previous legume. Legumes help in increasing organic matter and microbial biomass, soil activity, improve soil structure and water holding capacity while helping to reduce water erosion. Crop rotation plays an important role in organic farming, and rotations include legumes that allow for future production in the same land. The versatility of legumes allows them to be used in biological systems in different ways: crop rotation, intercropping, level cultivation, and cover crops. To reach the full yield potential of crops in organic production systems at all times, legumes must account for at least 30% of the total crop area [1]. The introduction of legumes into crop rotation is not a new concept, legumes such as peas and chickpeas were introduced into cereal-related crop rotation during the Harappan period of the chalcolithic period at the end of 3000 BC. The grain yield after legumes in the grain system is 30–35% higher than the grain in the crop chain. Legumes play a unique role in organic farming systems because of their deep root system, ability to fix nitrogen, and the ability to rotate and rotate systems. The choice of the utilization of grain legumes in organic farming increases day by day due to the increasing consumption of organic productions

**2. Status of grain legumes under organic farming vs. conventional** 

Recognizing the importance of clean food for people, the demand for organic products, especially in developed countries, is increasing day by day. Worldwide, 1.8 million farm households in 162 countries practice organic farming on 37 million hectares of land. The largest areas of organically managed agricultural land are Oceania (12.1 million hectares or 33% of the world's organic agricultural land), Europe (10.6 million hectares or 29% organic agricultural land of the world), and Latin America (6.8 million ha or 23%). India now ranks 10th among the top 10 countries in the world for organic certified farmlands. The certified area covers 15% of the cultivated area with 0.72 million ha and the remaining 85% (3.99 million ha) is left in the forest and wilderness to collect small forest products. The total area under organic certification is 4.72 million ha (2013–2014). In terms of production, India has produced about 1.24 million tons of certified organic products including sugarcane, cotton, oilseeds, basmati rice, legumes, spices, tea, fruits, dried fruits, vegetables, coffee, and value-added products and organic products is not limited to food items but it also includes an organic cotton and other daily items, etc. Of all the states, Madhya Pradesh occupies the largest area of organic produce certification,

In India, the main grain legumes are based on pulses and oilseeds and the main crops are lentils, grams, peanuts, soybeans, and pigeons (**Table 1**), but the organic production of organic grain legumes is only 1.44 million tons [3]. Organic production of grain legumes is low as compared to conventionally produced legumes but their production was improved day by day by the implementation of new research modules developed by agricultural institutes. Organic grain legumes not in terms of consumption are better utilized but it is developed as a backbone of agriculture markets in terms of export to other countries at higher rates. Soybeans (70%)

**80**

*Major grain legumes in India.*

topped export products, followed by cereals and millet different from basmati (6%), processed food products (5%), basmati rice (4%), sugar (3%), tea (2%), legumes (1%), nuts (1%), spices (1%) and others (www.opeda.org). The Indian Government launched the National Organic Production Program (NPOP) in 2001. States like Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Sikkim have encouraged organic agriculture based on cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and horticultural crops.
