Are Pulses Rabi Crops or Kharif Crops?

Pulses include several protein-rich legumes, and their classification as Rabi (winter) or Kharif (monsoon) depends on species and regional climate. Rabi pulses are sown in cool, dry conditions after the monsoon and harvested in spring; typical examples are gram (Cicer arietinum), lentil (Lens culinaris), and pea (Pisum sativum). 

They benefit from lower disease pressure and controlled irrigation. Kharif pulses thrive in warm, humid monsoon weather and are sown with the rains; core examples include pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), green gram (Vigna radiata), and black gram (Vigna mungo).

From an agronomy perspective, choosing the correct season optimizes germination, pod set, and disease management. Pulses are pivotal for nitrogen fixation, improving soil fertility in cereal–pulse rotations and reducing synthetic fertilizer needs. For content aimed at beginners, emphasize sowing windows, soil moisture management, and common pest pressures (e.g., pod borers for pigeon pea in Kharif; wilt and rust in Rabi chickpea). 

For exam-style recall, remember: “cool season” aligns with chickpea/lentil (Rabi), while “monsoon season” aligns with pigeon pea/urd/moong (Kharif).