GNG-1958 (desi)
A sibling release in the Ganganagar (Rajasthan) series, on the same wilt-tolerant, light-soil breeding line as GNG-1581.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Gram (Chana)
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Rabi
- Maturity period
- 135–145 days
- Seed rate
- 15–18 kg per acre for desi gram. A bold-grained lot weighs more per seed, so count plants in the field rather than trusting the bag weight alone
- Expected yield
- 26.8 q/ha
- Suitable soil
- Sandy / light soil
- Disease resistance
- Wilt-tolerant
- Release
- Developed and released by ARS, Sri Ganganagar (Rajasthan), 2013; recommended for the North Western Plain Zone (Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, north Rajasthan, west Uttar Pradesh)
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
About this variety
GNG-1958 is a desi chickpea developed and released by the Agricultural Research Station, Sri Ganganagar (Rajasthan), in 2013. It matures in about 145 days under normal-sown, irrigated conditions and is officially recommended for the North Western Plain Zone — Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, north Rajasthan and western Uttar Pradesh — rather than Rajasthan alone. The ICAR AICRP chickpea varietal table records the cross as GNG 1365 × SAKI 9516, a yield of 26.8 q/ha and a 100-seed weight of 25.4 g.
Should you pick this variety?
Pick GNG-1958 if you sow chana on time with irrigation anywhere in the North Western Plain Zone — Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, north Rajasthan or western Uttar Pradesh. It carries the highest published yield of the ten grams on this list, ahead of Vijay's 20–25 q/ha and Pusa 372's 20–22, and the ICAR AICRP chickpea table puts its 100-seed weight at 25.4 g, the boldest desi grain here, so it is not a case of weight bought with small seed. What it asks for in return is the full season and the water: about 145 days under normal-sown irrigated conditions, which rules it out for a late sowing or an unirrigated field — JG 11 at 95–100 days is the variety for a short window. Choose GNG-1581 for the same belt if you want a slightly longer, equally proven variety; for the central plateau, JAKI-9218.
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing time25 October to 10 November (PAU)
- Seed rate15–18 kg per acre for desi gram. A bold-grained lot weighs more per seed, so count plants in the field rather than trusting the bag weight alone
- Spacing30 cm rows with seed placed 10–12.5 cm deep
- Sowing methodSow with a drill fitted with broader flutes, after inoculating with Mesorhizobium and Rhizobacterium
- IrrigationHeavy pre-sowing irrigation; one further irrigation between mid-December and end-January, which also reduces wilt (PAU)
- Fertilizer6 kg N with 8 kg P2O5 per acre drilled at sowing, plus the zinc-and-urea tank mix at 90 and 110 days if you want to lift grain zinc (PAU)
Advantages & considerations
Things to consider
- At about 145 days this is a full-season rabi chana. A late sowing pushes the harvest into the hot end of the season and costs grain weight, so sow it on time or pick a shorter variety.
- It is listed for normal-sown irrigated conditions. On unirrigated land the 26.8 q/ha will not hold — treat that as the figure for a well-watered, timely-sown crop.
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Rajasthan
- Punjab
- Haryana
- Delhi
- Uttar Pradesh
Normal-sown and irrigated is the whole recommendation
GNG-1958 is recommended for normal-sown, irrigated chana in the North Western Plain Zone. Both halves of that matter: the sowing window, and the assured water. A variety released for those conditions is tested in them, and nothing else about it is promised.
So if your field is free on time and you can irrigate, this is a straightforward fit alongside its sibling GNG-1581. If your field comes free late — after a late paddy or cotton harvest — ask your dealer or KVK for a variety recommended for late sowing instead. A normal-sown variety pushed late runs into heat at pod-fill. One honest note: the 26.8 q/ha comes from ICAR AICRP trial plots, so treat it as a ceiling and try the variety on one strip before committing the whole area.
Can you keep your own planting material?
This is an open-pollinated variety, so seed from a healthy crop of your own can be sown again. Keep seed only from disease-free plants, dry it properly, store it cool and dry, and bring in fresh certified seed every three to four years so the variety does not drift.
How it compares with other varieties
Every Gram (Chana) variety with a page on this site, side by side. The row for this page is highlighted.
| Variety | Best for | Maturity | Yield | States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GNG-1581 (desi) | Light north-west soils where wilt and blight both show up | About 151 days | High | Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir |
| GNG-1958 (desi)this page | Normal-sown irrigated chana across the North Western Plain Zone | 135–145 days | 26.8 q/ha | Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh |
| JAKI-9218 (desi) | Central-plateau chana on land with a wilt and root-rot history | About 120 days | High | Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh |
| JG 11 | Early bold-seeded chana for the southern zone and tight rabi windows | 95–100 days | 18–20 q/ha | Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra |
| JG-14 (desi) | Early desi chana for double-cropping and escaping late-season heat | 100–105 days | High | Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat |
| JGK-1 (kabuli) | Central-zone kabuli chana on good soil with careful management | 105–120 days | Medium–High | Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh |
| Kak-2 (kabuli) | Extra-large kabuli grain for the premium and export market | 90–100 days | Medium–High | Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat |
| Pusa 256 | Bold brown desi grain, with room for a late sowing | 110–115 days | 18–20 q/ha | Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh |
| Pusa 372 | Wide-area desi chana that also works for a late sowing | 130–140 days | 20–22 q/ha | Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan |
| Vijay (desi) | Rainfed chana on the plateau, where moisture runs out at pod-fill | 105–110 days | 20–25 q/ha | Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat |
Tools for this crop
The numbers you need next: how much seed to buy, whether the lot germinates, what the fertilizer bill looks like and what Gram (Chana) is selling for.
- Seed Rate CalculatorHow much seed your Gram (Chana) plot needs, corrected for the germination of the lot you bought.
- Germination CalculatorTest 100 seeds from the bag before sowing and see whether the lot is fit to sow.
- Seed Variety FinderFilter every Gram (Chana) variety on this site by state, season, duration and soil.
- Fertilizer CalculatorTurn the NPK recommendation for Gram (Chana) into bags of urea, DAP and MOP for your field size.
- Crop CalendarMonth-by-month sowing, weeding, irrigation and harvest dates for Gram (Chana) in your state.
- Crop Profit CalculatorPut your seed, labour and input costs against the yield you expect from this variety.
- Mandi Price CheckerToday's Gram (Chana) rate in your nearest mandi, before you fix a price with a trader.
Subsidy and government support
Schemes that help with the cost of Gram (Chana) seed or planting material. Rules and the application route are on each scheme page.
Frequently asked questions
Which institute released GNG-1958, and when?
The Agricultural Research Station, Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, in 2013.
Is GNG-1958 recommended only for Rajasthan?
No — its official zone recommendation (North Western Plain Zone) also covers Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, alongside Rajasthan.
Is GNG-1958 a desi or a kabuli chickpea?
It is desi. The more detailed source describes it with brown seed.
What yield does GNG-1958 give?
About 26.8 q/ha. The ICAR AICRP chickpea varietal table lists that as the yield for normal-sown irrigated conditions, and separately gives a 100-seed weight of 25.4 g, so the two numbers do not clash.
What is GNG-1958's parentage?
GNG 1365 × SAKI 9516, per the ICAR AICRP chickpea varietal table. Its sibling GNG-1581 comes from GPF 2 × H 82-2.
Is GNG-1958 or GNG-1581 the better order?
Both are ARS Sri Ganganagar releases for the same North Western Plain Zone and both tolerate wilt. GNG-1958 is the newer one, at 26.8 q/ha in about 145 days; GNG-1581 gives 24 q/ha in about 151 days. GNG-1958 is slightly higher yielding and slightly earlier, so take it where the seed is available fresh and certified.
Is GNG-1958 only for Rajasthan?
No. It was released by a Rajasthan station but recommended for the whole North Western Plain Zone, which covers Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, north Rajasthan and western Uttar Pradesh. Where you farm inside that zone matters more than which state released it.
Does a 145-day chana fit before my next crop?
It is a long-duration rabi chana, so a late sowing can push the harvest into the hot end of the season. If your field has to be clear early, or your sowing slips, a shorter variety such as Vijay at 105–110 days suits the calendar better.
When should I sow GNG-1958?
25 October to 10 November, the window PAU gives for chana. GNG-1958 is a normal-sown irrigated variety, so this window is where its 26.8 q/ha figure comes from. Sowing into December turns it into a different, smaller crop.
How deep and how far apart should GNG-1958 go?
Rows 30 cm apart with the seed placed 10–12.5 cm deep. If your drill cannot reach that depth, open a furrow and drop the seed behind the plough rather than sowing shallow and hoping for a shower.
Sourced from: Package of Practices for Rabi Crops, Punjab Agricultural University: gram sowing window, desi seed rate, spacing, fertiliser including the zinc foliar spray, and irrigation. editorial policy.