Horse Gram
Macrotyloma uniflorum
📖 About this plant
Horse Gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum, formerly Dolichos biflorus), known as kulthi dal in Hindi, kollu in Tamil, ulavalu in Telugu, and kulith in Marathi, is a hardy annual pulse crop in the Fabaceae (legume) family, prized for its small reddish-brown seeds and famous as one of the most heat-tolerant and drought-tolerant pulses in the world. Native to the Indian subcontinent — specifically the Deccan Plateau of south-central India — horse gram has been cultivated for over 3,000 years and is a staple pulse of the dry regions of south India (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana), Maharashtra, and parts of Odisha and Chhattisgarh. The plant is a small trailing or bushy annual, 30-60 cm tall, with trifoliate hairy leaves, small pale yellow pea-like flowers, and small (5-7 cm) curved pods containing 5-8 small reddish-brown seeds. The plant is exceptionally tough — it grows in poor, dry soils where other pulses fail, requiring minimal water and fertilizer, and is often called the “poor mans pulse” or the “miracle pulse” for its resilience. The name “horse gram” comes from the traditional use of the seeds as horse feed (it was believed to give horses strength and stamina) — but it is also a valued human food, especially in south India and Maharashtra. Horse gram is exceptionally nutritious — among the richest plant sources of protein (about 22-25%), dietary fiber, iron (one of the highest of any pulse), calcium, phosphorus, B vitamins, and antioxidants (polyphenols). It is also low-glycemic and considered beneficial for weight loss, diabetes, and kidney stones (in folk medicine). In Tamil Nadu, kollu is famous as a weight-loss food (the saying “elumicham kaayum kollum” — lemon and horse gram — refers to the traditional weight-loss remedy). Horse gram is cooked into thick soups and dals (kollu rasam, kollu dal, ulavalu charu), sprouted and eaten, ground into chutney powder (kollu podi — mixed with rice and ghee), and given to lactating mothers and the sick for strength. In Ayurvedic medicine, horse gram is considered warming (ushna), light (laghu), and is recommended for kapha and vata doshas, for coughs, asthma, kidney stones, and as a general strengthener. Modern research has confirmed antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, and anti-urolithiasis (kidney stone) properties.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Full sun
Drought-tolerant; minimal watering
Low to moderate (40-60%)
20-35°C
Well-draining sandy loam; pH 5.5-7.5 (tolerates poor soil)
Inoculate with rhizobium; low-N, phosphorus/potassium
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Indian subcontinent (Deccan Plateau)
- 📏 Max height
- 30-60 cm
- 📐 Spread
- 30-45 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Late summer; small yellow pea-like flowers
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Pale yellow
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Trifoliate dark green leaves (slightly hairy)
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Annual (1 season)
- 📈 Growth rate
- Fast — harvest in 90-120 days
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic; safe for humans and pets
- 🌱 Propagation
- Seeds (direct sow)
🛡️ Health & Safety
Non-toxic; safe for humans and pets
Common issues
- Anthracnose (most serious — Colletotrichum), Cercospora leaf spot, powdery mildew, root rot, yellow mosaic virus, aphids, whiteflies, jassids, pod borer, bruchid beetles (storage pest), poor nodulation in acidic soils
💡 Care tips
- Direct sow seeds 2-3 cm deep, 10-15 cm apart, in rows 30-45 cm apart, after soil has warmed to 25°C. In India, sow with the monsoon (June-July for kharif crop) or in late summer (August-September for rabi crop in south India). Inoculate seeds with rhizobium bacteria before planting to boost nitrogen fixation. Plant in full sun in well-draining, even poor sandy loam. Horse gram thrives in poor, dry, rocky soils where other pulses fail — it does NOT tolerate waterlogging or fertile, high-nitrogen soils (produces lush leaves but few pods). Water sparingly — horse gram is exceptionally drought-tolerant and suffers from overwatering. Water during germination and flowering if rainfall is inadequate; otherwise rely on monsoon. Stop watering when pods turn brown and dry. Do NOT apply nitrogen — horse gram fixes its own. Apply phosphorus and potassium at planting if soil is very poor. The plant grows rapidly — flowers 40-50 days after sowing, pods mature 80-100 days after sowing. Harvest when pods turn brown and dry (about 90-120 days after sowing) — pull entire plants and dry in the sun for 3-5 days, then thresh to release seeds. Winnow to remove chaff. Dry grain to 12% moisture before storage. Store in airtight containers — add dried neem leaves to prevent bruchid beetle infestation. Save seeds for next year — they remain viable for 1-2 years. Horse gram is a great cover crop and green manure for poor dryland soils — it fixes 50-80 kg/ha of nitrogen even in poor conditions. Popular Indian varieties include PHG-9, AK-21, Pusa-10, VZM-1, KB-1, and Maru Kulthi-1. For cooking: soak whole horse gram for 6-8 hours before cooking (it is harder than other dals and requires longer soaking and cooking time). Pressure-cook for 4-6 whistles or slow-simmer for 1-2 hours. For sprouting: soak for 12 hours, drain, then rinse and drain twice daily for 2-3 days until sprouts emerge. Sprouted horse gram is more digestible and has enhanced nutrient availability.
