Vijay (desi)
A drought-tolerant desi bred for the rainfed tracts of Maharashtra, holding yield better than most under moisture stress.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Gram (Chana)
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Rabi
- Maturity period
- 105–110 days
- Seed rate
- 15–18 kg per acre for a desi gram. Sowing in the second fortnight of November raises it to 27 kg/acre, and the first fortnight of December to 36 kg/acre
- Expected yield
- 20–25 q/ha
- Suitable soil
- Clay / black soil
- Disease resistance
- Wilt-tolerant
- Release
- Released 1994 · Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (MPKV), Rahuri, Maharashtra — for the Central Zone (MP, Maharashtra, Gujarat)
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
About this variety
Vijay was bred under the pedigree designation Phule G-81-1-1 by Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (MPKV), Rahuri, and released in 1994 for the Central Zone (Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat). It is a desi chickpea known for wilt resistance and tolerance to terminal moisture (drought) stress — traits suited to the rainfed tracts it was bred for.
Should you pick this variety?
Pick Vijay if your chana is rainfed and the crop usually runs short of moisture at the end of the season. MPKV Rahuri released it in 1993 under the pedigree Phule G-81-1-1 for the Central Zone — Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat — with wilt resistance and tolerance of terminal moisture stress, which is exactly what rainfed plateau land needs. The ICAR AICRP chickpea varietal table puts it at 105–110 days with 20–25 q/ha across the zones it was tested in. Choose JAKI-9218 if root rot and collar rot also show up, and JG-14 if you mainly need an early harvest.
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing time25 October to 10 November. Sown earlier, the crop meets high temperature and wilts; sown later, it never builds enough root and the yield drops (PAU)
- Seed rate15–18 kg per acre for a desi gram. Sowing in the second fortnight of November raises it to 27 kg/acre, and the first fortnight of December to 36 kg/acre
- SpacingRows 30 cm apart, seed placed 10–12.5 cm deep. Shallow sowing is what leaves a gram crop open to wilt
- Sowing methodSow by the pora method or a seed-cum-fertiliser drill with broader flutes. Inoculate the seed with Mesorhizobium and Rhizobacterium, dry it in the shade, and sow within an hour
- IrrigationA heavy pre-sowing irrigation, then at most one more between mid-December and end-January — never within four weeks of sowing. Too much water grows leaf, not grain (PAU)
- FertilizerDesi gram takes only 6 kg N and 8 kg P2O5 per acre — 13 kg urea with 50 kg single superphosphate, all drilled at sowing. A 2% urea spray at 90 and 110 days adds yield (PAU)
Advantages & considerations
Things to consider
- Vijay is a rainfed-type release. On irrigated land with a late sowing it can run past 110 days, so keep a little room in the rabi calendar.
- The 20–25 q/ha is the trial range from the ICAR AICRP table. A rainfed plot that runs short of moisture at pod-fill will sit at the lower end of it.
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Maharashtra
- Madhya Pradesh
- Gujarat
Saving the moisture for pod-fill
Vijay was bred for the rainfed tracts of Maharashtra and holds yield better than most under moisture stress. On the plateau the crop usually does not fail for want of a start, it fails because the soil runs dry exactly when pods are filling.
So farm for that week. Sow early into the residual moisture after the monsoon so the crop is ahead of the dry period, keep the seedbed closed and weed-free so stored water is not spent on weeds, and use any mulch or crop residue you have on the surface. If you can give one irrigation in the whole season, give it at pod formation rather than early growth. Drought tolerance does not make grain out of nothing, but it does turn a failed crop into a modest one, and the field work above is what decides which.
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) | 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)this page | 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
Is "Vijay" the only name for this variety?
Its official pedigree designation is Phule G-81-1-1; "Vijay" is the release name given by MPKV, Rahuri.
When and where was Vijay released?
In 1994, by Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (MPKV), Rahuri, for the Central Zone — Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Is Vijay suited to rainfed or drought-prone plots?
Yes — it was bred for tolerance to terminal moisture stress alongside wilt resistance, a good fit for Maharashtra's rainfed tracts.
How long does Vijay take to mature?
About 105–110 days, per the ICAR AICRP chickpea varietal table. Sowing date, soil and season shift chana maturity by a week either way, so treat it as a planning figure and watch the crop, not the calendar.
Which states is Vijay officially recommended for?
The whole Central Zone — Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
What does terminal moisture stress tolerance mean for my crop?
It means the plant holds its grain filling better when the soil dries out while the pods are still filling, which is the stage that decides a rainfed chana crop. It is not drought-proof — it loses less than a variety bred for irrigated land.
Vijay or JAKI-9218 for a Maharashtra field?
Vijay was bred at MPKV Rahuri for Maharashtra's rainfed tracts and handles end-of-season dryness, giving about 20–25 q/ha. JAKI-9218 resists wilt, root rot and collar rot and gives 18–22 q/ha. If water is your limit, Vijay; if disease is, JAKI-9218.
What yield should I budget for with Vijay?
20–25 q/ha. On rainfed plateau land the lower end is the realistic planning figure, because the crop finishes on stored moisture and the yield turns on how much is left at pod-fill, not on the variety alone.
Can I keep my own Vijay seed?
Yes, it is an open-pollinated, self-pollinated crop, so your own seed stays true. Keep seed from the part of the field that finished best in a dry year, dry it hard, and store it away from the grain you plan to sell.
Sourced from: Package of Practices for Rabi Crops, Punjab Agricultural University: gram sowing window, seed rate for desi and kabuli, sowing depth and row spacing, fertiliser and irrigation. editorial policy.