What is the correct seed rate and row spacing for desi versus kabuli chana?

First time I grew kabuli I used my usual desi seed rate by weight and the stand came thin, because each kabuli seed is so much heavier you get far fewer seeds per kilo. Weigh out more for kabuli to get the same number of plants in the row.

A simple way I set the kabuli rate is to count the seeds in a small weighed sample, since the bold grain gives far fewer seeds per kilo, then work back to the weight that gives the plant number I want per row. Going by my old desi weight left the kabuli stand thin the first year.

Kabuli is fussier than desi, it wants good, fairly heavy soil and even moisture for the bold grain that fetches the premium. On my lighter patch the desi did fine but the kabuli grain stayed small. Match kabuli to your better land if you want the size that gets a good price.

Keep the row spacing around the usual for both but adjust the within-row seed for the bigger kabuli grain, and treat the seed before sowing since the large soft seed is more prone to seed-borne trouble. Treated, well-spaced kabuli on my heavier plot gave the bold premium grain.

Always run a germination test on kabuli seed before fixing the rate, because the large seed can be more prone to damage and lower germination if stored badly. Mine tested low one year and I had to raise the rate further. Adjust to the actual germination, do not just go by the book figure.