Sem ( Lablab purpureus (Linn.) / Syn-Dolichos lablab Linn / Indian bean is a multipurpose annual or short lived wild perennial plant used as vegetable, pulse and forage. Leaves, flowers and roots , all are edible. It belongs to Fabaceae family and LabLab genus. Ayurveda calls it medicinal plant. Mostly it is home grown/ backyard / wildly grown plant. Now its demand is at increase, so commercial cultivation is growing day by day.

1. DOLICHOS BEANS (SEM KI PHALI ) PRODUCTION POST HARVEST
MANAGRMRNT AND VALUE ADDITION
Dr Jai Singh (ARS)
M Tech Ph D
Former Director ICAR – CIPHET
Nob:8958463808 E- Mail:jsingh.sre@gmail.com
INTRODUCTION
Sem ( Lablab purpureus (Linn.) / Syn-Dolichos lablab Linn / Indian bean is
a multipurpose annual or short lived wild perennial plant used as
vegetable, pulse and forage. Leaves, flowers and roots , all are edible. It
belongs to Fabaceae family and LabLab genus. Ayurveda calls it medicinal
plant. Mostly it is home grown/ backyard / wildly grown plant. Now its
demand is at increase, so commercial cultivation is growing day by day.
Major Production States: Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana,
West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana,
and Maharashtra.
Common and Local Names: Dolichos bean, Hyacinth bean, Bonavist
bean, Seim bean, Lablab bean, Egyptian kidney bean, Indian bean, Field
bean, Pendal bean, Pole bean (Common names); Nispav, Vallak,
Shvetshimbika ( Sanskrit); Sem, Ballar ,Nispav,Bhatvasu (Hindi); Pavta,
Wal (Marathi), Avare, Chapparadavare, Chikkadikai (Kannada); Avari,
Mochai, (Tamil), Chikkudu , Anumulu (Telugu); Avara, Mochakotta, Amara
(Malayalam); Makhansim, Borboti, Shim (Bengali); Oliya, Val (Guajarati);
Uri), Urshi,Sin bean (Assamese); Kalalobia, Katjang (Punjabi);

2. Varieties: Kashi Khushal (VRSEM - 3), Kashi Sheetal (VRSEM - 11), Kashi
Harittima; Pusa Early Prolific. Pusa Sem 2. Pusa Sem 3. Deepali.Rajni.
Dasara, KDB 403, KDB 405. Kankan Bushan., Phule Gauri; Rongal (UAS
Bangluru), Jawahar – 53, Jawahar – 79, HD -1, HD – 18, etc.
Climate Requirement: It is cool season crop and well adapted to tropical
and subtropical regions. High temperatures and humidity favors the plant
growth. Sowing with onset of monsoon (July), comes to flowering in
November and starts fruiting from onset of cold season after 3 months
of sowing and continue to give green pods through winter and spring
season.
Soil Requirement: Adaptable in wide range of soils. However, loam soils
are best. Also grows well in alkaline and saline soils pH value up to 8.5.
Land Preparation, Seed Rate and Sowing: Well drained fine tilth soil ;
10 to 12 kg / ha for climbing type and 20 to 25 kg / ha for bushy type;
ridges, flat bed, broad bed, furrows and pits at 1 x 1.5 m spacing.
Fertilizers Requirement: (FMY) 5 to 8 tonnes, 10 kg ‘N’ and 20 kg ‘P’ /
hectare at the time of sowing .
Harvesting : Harvesting is normally carried manually on need base.
Picking is preferred in the morning or late afternoon for better quality. Seed
crop is harvested when leaves start falling and pods look dry ( seed grain
moisture not more than14 %). Harvested crop is dried for 8-10 days at the
threshing floor with lesser exposure to direct sun.
Yield: Average yield of 10 - 12 tonnes / ha green pods, 1. 2 – 1.5 tonnes /
ha seeds, and 5 to 10 tonnes / ha foliage for fodder or green manure.
Health Benefits : Rich in dietary fiber, and minerals (copper, Iron,
Magnesium, Phosphorus, Calcium, etc) ; Vitamins A, C & K. Found
beneficial in boosting immunity, enhancing bone health, preventing birth
defects, correcting digestive system and curing fever, throat sore, diarrhea,
stomachalgia, stomach flatulance , ulcer, scabies (skin disease), ring worm,
inflammation, cancer, breathing disease, heart health, parkinson’s disease,
Self Life of Fresh Beans: The minimally processed and de-
skinned bean packed in LDPE and PP bags showed a maximum shelf-

3. life of 3 days under ambient storage condition and 12 days under
refrigerated storage condition. The pre-treated samples exhibited better
quality parameters than the untreated samples.
TYPES OF SEM KI PHALI AND SEEDS
Flat Lima green
Sem
LabLab Sem phalli desi
Lima Beans
Flat Lima Jabjab
Dolichos
Hyacinth Papdi sem LabLab
Dolichos
Lab Lab
Purpureus
Hyacinth Seeds
Major Seed
Types
Dolochos
Flowers
Hyacinth
Flowers
SEM KI PHALI PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
Well Tilth Field Broad Base Seed Bed Flat Seed Bed Ridge Furrow Seed
Bed

4. Pit planting 1 – 1.5 m
spacing
Manual Planting 1 –
1.5 m
x I m spcing
Planting 1 x 2 m Manual Planter
ICAR – CIAE Planter Arka Jay IIHR UAS Bangluru Sem crop on
structures
Pole Supported Climbing Sem Sem Climbing on
house wall
Sem Cultivation
UAS Banguluru
Grown crop Beans picking Beans lot for market Hand Peeling
Food Uses : The leaves are eaten raw or cooked like spinach. The flowers
can be eaten raw or steamed. The root can be boiled or baked for food.
The seeds are used to make tofu and tempeh. Sabji, Bhaji, Pickle, Soup,
Cheela, Crispy poha nastha, Patties, Samosa, Dhokla, Kadhi, Popped
green bean namkeen, poha mixture, Sprouted bean chaat, Tofu ,
Fermented Tempe, Green Leaves saag, Sweet from boiled beans meshed

5. with ripe banana, Thoran , mochai , upma (avrekaalu uppittu, Salad,
pitakapappu hanupa/anapa, Sweets – imerti – laddoo , etc
Sabji Bhaji Pickle Cheela
Baatia Patties Crispy poha
nastha
Samosa Soup
Dhokla Roasted / fried
splits namkeen
Poha mixture Sem ki kadhi
Papad
Dietary fiber Tofu from seeds Fermented Tempe
from seeds
Leaves saag Dolichos
multigrain imrti
Dolichos
multigrain Laddoo
Dried green beans

6. DOLICHOS BEANS AND SEED PROCESSING
Picked green beans Weighing
Sorting Peeling
Ready to Cook Marketing pack Frozen Depoding machine
Green gains Seed crop ready to
harvest
Harvested crop
stack
Drying before
threshing
Threshing
Cleaning grading Grain lot
ICAR – CIAE Tofu
Plant
ICAR – CIAE Dal Mill
Dolichos daal Atta / flour Suji / simolina

7. Golichos multigrain
pushtahar dalia
Dolichos multigrain
bread
Dolichos multigrain
biscuits
Dolichos
multigrain sattu
Animal Feed and Fodder : Excellent quality hay, similar to alfalfa hay
can be made after drying. It can also be ensiled alone at 30 – 35 % DM
or with rice / wheat / millet stovers. Dry crops after seed can be
pelleted as animal feed.
Dolichos crop hay
drying
Dolichos bag silage Dolichos feed pellets Dolichos silage
Commercial Products : Diatery fiber, Tofu, Tempeh, Dal, Atta, Suji, Dalia,
Bread, Biscuits, Multi grain sweets, etc.
Industrial Products: Fine powder of seeds can be used as natural
coagulant, disinfection for turbid water clarification and inactivation of
bacteria. Dried peel powder is used in biscuits.
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