Collection: GREEN GRAM

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Mung bean is a highly nutritious legume commonly grown in India, Myanmar, and China. Mung bean is known for its rich protein content and high digestibility compared to other pulses. Mung bean is a dietary staple in many regions of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Mung bean can be used in a wide range of dishes such as soups, salads and desserts. Mung bean is also known as Green gram. Green gram is scientifically known as Vigna radiata and belongs to the Leguminaceae family.

Beyond its nutritional value, Mung bean plays a crucial role in improving soil health. As a nitrogen-fixing crop, Moong enriches the soil by converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use, boosting fertility for subsequent crops. Green gram is also widely incorporated into crop rotations and intercropping systems, improving soil quality. The quick-growing nature and close spacing of Green gram plants help reduce soil erosion and control weed growth, making it a suitable choice for farming systems.

Climate for Mung Bean Farming

Mung bean is a tropical pulse crop that grows well in semi-arid and subtropical regions. The best temperature for the growth of Green gram crops ranges from 25°C to 35°C. Green gram crop can tolerate high temperatures, up to 42°C, making the crop suitable for hot climates. Mung bean is commonly grown in summer and has short-day and day-neutral varieties. Mung bean grows well in rainfed areas and is one of the hardiest pulse crops.

Soil for Sowing Moong Seeds

Mung bean grows well in various soil types, ranging from sandy loams to black cotton soils. In North India, Green gram is typically grown in well-drained loamy soils, while in South India, red soils are more common. The Green gram crop cannot tolerate water logging and requires good drainage for healthy growth. Green gram crop grow best in soils with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Moong crops can tolerate moderate levels of soil salinity.

Land Preparation for Sowing Green Gram Seeds

Mung bean doesn't require extensive land preparation. Just one or two ploughings followed by harrowing are sufficient for planting Mung bean during the kharif season. Around 12.5 tonnes of Well-decomposed FYM can be added per hectare of land during the last ploughing. In the rabi season, Moong crops are typically grown on deep soils or lands that have been left fallow after the Kharif crop. For relay cropping in rice fallows, no tillage is needed as the Green gram seeds are broadcast into the standing rice crop about a week before it is harvested.

Green Gram Seeds and Propagation Material

Selection of a Green Gram Seed Variety: Select a Green gram seed variety based on climate, soil, and local market preferences, etc.

Procurement of Quality Green Gram Seeds: To ensure a successful crop, it is essential to source the best quality Green gram seeds. At Desikheti, we provide a wide selection of premium Green gram seeds for various farming needs.

Green Gram Seed Rate: Generally, the seed rate for Green gram seeds is 8 to 10 kg per acre.

Green Gram Seed Treatment: The Green gram seeds sold by private companies are generally treated with chemicals. If untreated before purchase, Green gram seeds can be treated with a fungicide such as Carbendazim or Thiram at 2 g/kg of seed.

Time of Sowing Moong Seeds

Mung bean is cultivated during all three seasons but is primarily grown in the Kharif season in Northern India and the Rabi season in Southern India. For the Kharif season, Green gram seeds are sown between the last week of June and the second week of July. In the Rabi season, the sowing of Moong seeds typically occurs in January and February, while for the summer season, Moong seeds are planted in the first half of March. The exact sowing time varies depending on the region and local conditions. 

Delayed sowing of Green gram seeds during the summer can result in significant yield losses, particularly during the flowering stage, due to high temperatures. In rice fallow systems, the recommended sowing period of Mung bean seeds is from the third week of January to the second week of February.

Method of Sowing Moong Seeds

Green gram seeds can be sown using different methods, such as broadcasting, dibbling, or line sowing, depending on the cropping system. Another method of sowing Moong seeds involves dropping seeds into furrows, which is known as the Kera or Pora method. The broadcasting method of sowing Green gram crops is done for relay crops. The choice of method often depends on the resources available, field conditions, etc.

Line sowing is commonly preferred because it makes it easier to manage weeds and pests, improves irrigation efficiency, and allows better air circulation between plants. Moong seeds are sown at a depth of 5-7 cm, with a spacing of 30 x 10 cm, either manually or using a seed drill. For bund crops, a spacing of 30 cm is recommended to ensure healthy growth.

Nutrient Management for Mung Bean Farming

The exact fertilizer recommendations vary based on factors such as region, season, soil, etc. Generally, Fertilizers are applied to the soil before sowing Moong seeds. Generally, For rainfed Green gram crops, 12.5 kg of nitrogen, 25 kg of phosphorus, 1.5 kg of potassium, and 10 kg of sulfur per hectare are applied. For irrigated Mung bean crops, the fertilizer requirement increases to 25 kg of nitrogen, 50 kg of phosphorus, 25 kg of potassium, and 20 kg of sulfur per hectare. Additionally, under irrigated conditions, 25 kg of zinc sulfate per hectare can be applied.

Irrigation Management for Mung Bean Cultivation

Mung bean crops grown during the Kharif season usually don't need irrigation, and rice-fallow Mung bean also grows well without additional watering. However, winter and summer crops require irrigation. Water the field immediately after sowing Mung bean seeds and again on the third day to help the crop establish itself well. After that, irrigate every 7 to 10 days, depending on the soil and weather conditions.

The most critical stages for irrigation are flower initiation (around 35 days after sowing Green gram seeds) and pod filling (about 55 days after sowing Mung bean seeds). Provide 2-3 irrigations during the key flowering and pod-setting stages of Green gram plants. Waterlogging during flowering or pod filling can drastically reduce yields. It is important to avoid water stagnation and over-watering at any stage, as it can damage the Mung bean plants.

Weed Management for Mung Bean Farming

The critical period for crop weed competition in Mung bean occurs at 35 days after sowing Green gram seeds. To keep the field free from weeds throughout the crop's growth, either one round of hand weeding can be done 30 days after sowing Moong seeds or two rounds—one at 15 days and the other at 30 days after sowing Moong seeds can be done.

Pest and Disease Management for Mung Bean Farming

Common Pests of Mung bean 

Green Leafhopper (Empoasca kerri, Empoasca binotata)

• Both the nymphs and adult insects feed on the tender leaves and other parts of the Mung bean plant by sucking the sap.
• Affected Green gram leaves initially turn pale and eventually become rust-red.
• In severe cases, the Moong leaves curl downwards with the characteristic cupping of the leaves, known as hopper burn.
• The Green gram leaves become brittle and dry and fall off.
• This results in poor plant growth and loss of vigour.

Spotted Pod Borer (Maruca testulalis)

• The larvae infest the buds, flowers, and pods of the Mung bean plant by boring into them.
• Infested Green gram pods and flowers are often webbed together by the larvae.
• The larvae feed on the Mung bean seeds inside the pods.
• The extent of damage varies based on the locality, month, and variety of the Mung bean crop.

Pod Bug (Riptortus pedestris)

• Nymphs and adults cause significant damage to various parts of the Green gram plant, including pods, stems, leaves, and flower buds by sucking out the sap.
• The Mung bean pods affected by the pest develop pale yellow patches.
• The Moong seeds inside the infested pods often remain shrivelled and smaller than usual.
• The pest becomes particularly problematic when it attacks the Green gram pods just before crop maturity, resulting in considerable damage to the yield.

Common Diseases of Mung Bean 

Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe polygoni)

• Powdery mildew initially appears as small, irregular, powdery spots on the upper surface of the Mung bean leaves.
• These spots gradually expand and become circular, eventually covering the lower leaf surface as well. In severe cases, both surfaces of the Green gram leaves are completely covered by a whitish powdery growth.
• The white powdery spots also spread to the Mung bean plant petioles, stems, and even the pods, giving the plant a greyish-white appearance.
• The disease is most damaging during the flowering and pod development stages of the Green gram crop.
• Mung bean Pods that are infected become malformed, smaller, and have poorly filled seeds.

Cercospora Leaf Spot (Cercospora canescens)

• Small, circular spots with a grey centre and reddish-brown edges appear on the Green gram leaves. Over time, several of these spots merge, forming irregular brown lesions.
• Leaf spotting and defoliation can occur, particularly during the flowering and pod formation stages of Moong plants.
• In severe cases, brown lesions may also appear on the Moong plant petioles, branches, and pods.

Yellow Mosaic (Mungbean yellow mosaic virus)

• Initially, small yellow patches or spots appear on the young Green gram leaves.
• As the plant grows, the new leaves from the growing apex show irregular patches of yellow and green alternating with each other. Over time, the yellow discolouration becomes more intense, and newly formed Mung bean leaves may turn completely yellow.
• Infected Moong leaves also display necrotic symptoms, indicating tissue damage.
• Affected Green gram plants typically mature late than normal, producing very few flowers and pods. The pods that do form are small and distorted.
• In severe cases, early infection can lead to the death of the plant before Mung bean seed formation.

Mung Bean Harvesting

For Kharif crops, harvesting is done by picking the pods. Since most of the varieties are Non-Synchronous in maturity, harvesting is done in 2-3 pickings. For Rabi and Summer crops, the entire plant is cut down at the base during harvest. Afterwards, threshing is done to separate the seeds. Finally, the Mung bean seeds are cleaned and dried in the sun, followed by storage. 

Mung Bean Yield

The average yield of Green gram is 4 to 5 quintals per acre.