UPSC Prelims 2012 · Question 44 of 98

UPSC Prelims 2012 question on Legumes Pulse Fodder Green Manure

Consider the following crops of India:

1. Cowpea

2. Green gram

3. Pigeon pea

Which of the above is/are used as pulse, fodder and green manure?

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Answer: D. 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: 1, 2 and 3

All three crops are legumes and can be used as pulses, fodder and green manure, so the correct answer is 1, 2 and 3.

Cowpea, Green gram and Pigeon pea are leguminous crops.

They are used as pulses for human consumption, fodder for animals and green manure for improving soil fertility.

1. Cowpea — Correct

Cowpea, also known as lobia, is used as a pulse.

It is also used as fodder and is useful as green manure because it grows quickly and fixes atmospheric nitrogen.

2. Green gram — Correct

Green gram, or moong, is a common pulse crop in India.

Its crop residues can be used as fodder, and being a short-duration legume, it is useful for green manuring and improving soil fertility.

3. Pigeon pea — Correct

Pigeon pea, or arhar/tur, is an important pulse crop.

Its leaves and plant residues can be used as fodder, and as a legume it fixes nitrogen and improves soil structure.

* Leguminous crops fix atmospheric nitrogen through Rhizobium bacteria present in root nodules.

* Pulses are important sources of protein in the Indian diet.

* Green manuring means growing a crop and ploughing it back into the soil while it is still green.

* Green leaf manuring means adding green leaves and twigs collected from elsewhere into the field.

* Cowpea and green gram are preferred for green manuring due to their quick growth.

* Pigeon pea is deep-rooted and helps improve soil structure and water infiltration.

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