Mungbean
Botanical Name- Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek
Synonym-Moong
Introduction
Green gram is excellent source of high quality protein. Moong is consumed as whole grains, sprouted form as well as dhal in a variety of ways in homes. It is also used as green manuring crop. Moong can be used as a feed for cattle even husk of the seed can be soaked in water and used as cattle feed. In India these crops are cultivated in three different seasons, viz., kharif, rabi and summer. Summer moong can be grown after harvesting of pea, gram, potato, mustard, linseed. Cultivation of Jayad Moong is important to increase soil fertility in these areas where paddy –wheat crop rotation is used.
Land preparation
One deep ploughing followed by 2-3 harrowing and planking are considered optimum for green gram cultivation. Field should be well levelled and completely free from weeds.In case of summer pulse, sowing is generally delayed till the harvesting of main crop. Green gram may be sown by broadcasting effectively, this would not only save time, but would also result in considerable saving of cost of land preparation, irrigation, layout development etc.
Sowing/Planting/Cultivation
Green gram is planted at the rate of 4-6kgs/acre in the spacing of 45 cm between rows and 15 cm between the plants. Depth for sowing is suggested to be 3-5cm. When using oxen plough for planting one must place the seed at the side of furrow. It is recommended to practice crop rotation because green gram has toxic residues and disease organisms that may affect the crop.
Climatic and Soil Requirement
Green gram is grown in zaid and kharif season in northern India. In southern India, it is also grown in rabi season. It requires hot climate and has the capacity to tolerate moisture stress. Areas with annual rainfall of 50-70 cm are considered best for Green gram cultivation. It can be grown successfully up to an elevation of 2000 metre from mean sea level. Green gram may be grown on a variety of soils ranging from red laterite in southern India to black cotton soils in Madhya Pradesh and sandy soils in Rajasthan. However, loam to sandy loam soil is considered ideal for green gram cultivation. Soil should be well drained as even temporary waterlogging may damage the crop. Saline-alkali and acidic soils are not suitable for Green gram cultivation.
Soil Requirement:
Green gram can be grown in all types of soils except saline, saline alkaline and soils with poor drainage. Where ever commercial crop of green gram is possible to produce well, such areas are also suitable to produce seed, provided isolation is taken care of and land is free from volunteer green gram plants.
Isolation requirement for seed production:
Green gram is classified as self-pollinated crop. Pollen shedding takes place long before petal opening. Isolation requirement for foundation seed is 10 metres and Isolation requirement for certified seed is5 m from fields of other green gram varieties and of the same variety not confirming to varietal purity requirements of certification.
Nutrients Management
Nitrogen (N)
- Green gram is generally grown without application of fertilizers. However, experiments conducted at various places revealed that yield of Green gram can be increased to a great extent with the application of fertilizers
- Responses of Green gram to N is generally absent or negative
- In general, a starter dose of 10-20kg N/ha has been recommended
- Rhizobium Culture responses to application are quite variable. Responses are comparatively higher in summer season in comparison to Kharif.
Phosphorus (P)
- Responses of Green gram to phosphorous are quite conspicuous.
- Significant increase in the yield of Green gram due to application of 80 kg P2O5/ha. Higher response of Green gram on red soils followed by that on laterite soils.
Potassium (K)
- Responses of Green gram to potassium are negligible or absent content in most of the Indian soils owing to the high potassium content.
- Overall, application of 100 kg ammonium phosphate per hectare is generally recommended for Green gram. This fertilizer is comparatively cheaper in the context of nutrient basis and can supply required quantity of N and P to the crop.
Water management
Water management in green gram cultivation involves various practices.It is important to irrigate the field immediately after sowing, followed by irrigation on the third day.And then irrigate at intervals of 7 to 10 days depending upon the soil and climatic conditions.Flowering and pod formation stages are critical periods when irrigation is a must. Notably, it is necessary to avoid water stagnation at all stages. Farmers also need to apply KCl at 0.5 per cent as foliar spray during vegetative stage if there is moisture stress. In Kharif, Green gram does not require irrigation unless there is a prolonged dry spell. However, it is important to provide adequate drainage for proper disposal of excess water as crop is sensitive to water logging. In case of the failure of rains, 1-2 irrigations are required for good production for rabi and in case of zaid season, providing 5-6 irrigations is necessary. First irrigation at 20-25 days and subsequent irrigations at an interval of 12-15 days. Moisture deficiency at the time of pod filling tage badly effect the green gram production. Notably, flowering and pod formation stages are critical periods for irrigation.
Spraying of Di-ammonium Phosphate or urea, NA and Salicylic Acid
Recommended doses are as follows: Foliar spray of NAA 40 mg/litre and Salicylic acid 100 mg/litre once at pre-flowering and another at 15 days thereafter
1) For Green gram, foliar spray of DAP 20 g/litre once at flowering and another at 15 days there after
2) For irrigated and rain fed crops foliar spray of DAP 20 g/litre or urea 20 g/litres once at flowering and another at 15 days thereafter.
Weed Management
Weed management and Inter-culture includes a range of practices.Pre emergence application of Pendimethalin @ 3.3 litres per hectare under irrigated condition or 2.5 litres per hectare under rainfed condition on 3 days is required after sowing using Backpack/Knapsack/Rocker sprayer fitted with flat fan nozzle using 500 litres of water for spraying one hact.There after, one hand weeding on 30th day after sowing gives weed free environment throughout the crop period or EPOE application of quizalofop ethyl @ 50 g ai/ha-1 and imazethapyr @ 50 g ai ha-1 on 15 – 20 days may be suggested. If herbicide is not applied farmer must give two hand weedings on 15 and 30 days after sowing.
Inter-culture operations should be done at 20-25 days after sowing to keep the field weed free and to preserve soil moisture and to improve microbial activity. One or two weedings or hoeings are to be done at about 20 and 25 days depending on weed growth. Spraying of chemical weedicide like Pendimethal in 30% @ 1.3 to 1.6 litres/Ac or Alachlor 50% @ 1 litre/Ac immediately after sowing or within 24 hrs after sowing is recommended.
Green gram being a dwarf statured crop suffers to great extent if the weeds are not controlled in time. The problem of weeds is more severe in kharif as compared to rabi and summer seasons. One hand weeding after 20-25 days of sowing followed by another after about 20 days may be sufficient. Weed can also be controlled with the use of herbicides i.e. pre-emergence application of 1 kg. Lasso The maximum absolute yield of Green gram can be obtained from ‘weed free’ plots where the weed competition was ‘zero.’ Alachlor at higher concentrations reflect in lesser branches and pods per plant Fluchloralin, and pendimethalin both at 1.0 kg/ha applied alone and in combination with one hand weeding will result in effective weed control.
Weed control systems containing fluchloralin at 1.0 Kg plus one hand weeding and pendimethalin at 1.0 Kg/ha plus one hand weeding not only gives higher grain yield but also provided excellent control of carpet weed and barnyard grass up to crop harvest. Thus, the Flauzifopbutyl and senthoxydim at 0.75 Kg/ha can be successfully used for the control of barnyard grass in Green gram cultivation.
Pest & Disease management
Critically the insect/pest affecting green gram includes flea beetles, thrips, white flies and tobacco caterpillar (Spodoptera).
Flea beetles: This pest attacks Green gram at 2-leaf stage and make holes on leaves. If not controlled at the initial stage when there is a severe attack of this pest, about 80% of plants will die. Spraying @ 2.5 ml chlorpyriphos/litre water can be helpful
Thrips: This pest sucks leaf sap from young leaves, which may lead to spread of leaf curl virus. About 15-20% damage to the crop may occur. For control, spray @ 1 g Acephate or 2 ml dimethoate/litre water.White flies: They will also suck sap from leaves along with spread of yellow mosaic virus for control there is need to spray @ 2 ml methyl-o-demeton or triazophos/litre water to control Thrips.
Tobacco caterpillar (Spodoptera litura): Leaves turn yellow along with holes when these insects scratch green matter and eat it formally. These insects eat away complete leaves. Or even flowers and pods. They feed more during nights and hide at plant base or in crevices of soil during day. To get rid of these insects, it is recommended to practice integrated Pest Management. Most critical diseases include powdery mildew, cercospora leaf spot, bacterial blight, leaf curl virus and yellow mosaic virus.
Powdery mildew: At 30th-35th day when humidity is high, ash type powder will form on old leaves. It spreads to branches & pods.
Cercospora leaf spot: Light brown spots on leaves develop into big spots under favourable weather conditions and leaves dry up & fall down. This in turn lead to Poor seed development in pods.
Bacterial blight: Light brown spots on leaves.
Leaf curl virus: Spreads through thrips.
Yellow mosaic virus: Spreads through white flies.
Recommended Good Agriculture Practices
Seed Treatment with Biofertilizer
Treat the seeds with one packet (200 g/ha) of Rhizobial culture CRM 6 and one packet (200 g/ha) of Phosphobacteria along with one packet (200 g/ha) of PGPR developed at TNAU using rice kanji as binder. If the seed treatment is not carried out apply 10 packets (2 kg) of Phosphobacteria and 10 packets (2 kg) of PGPR with 25 kg of FYM and 25 kg of soil before sowing.
Fertilizer Application
Apply fertilizers basally before sowing. Rainfed: 12.5 kg N + 25 kg P2O5 + 12.5 kg K2O +10 kg S*/ha. Irrigated: 25 kg N + 50 kg P2O5 + 25 kg K2O + 20 kg S*/ha
*Note: Applied in the form of gypsum, if Single Super Phosphate is not applied as a source of phosphorus
- Soil application of 25 kg ZnSo4/ha under irrigated condition
- Soil application of TNAU micronutrient mixture @ 5 kg/ha as Enriched FYM (Prepare enriched FYM at 1:10 ratio of MN mixture & FYM; mix at friable moisture &incubate for one month in shade).
Multi-blooming technology for irrigated green gram in new delta region of Thanjavur
For higher yield and income, apply 25:50:25:20 kg NPKS/ha.+25 kg N/ha. in 3 equal splits on 30,45 and 60 days after sowing + 2% DAP spray on 45 and 60 days after sowing.
Foliar spray of 1% urea for yield improvement in green gram
For the yield improvement through increasing the physiological and biochemical attributes, foliar spray of urea 1% on 30th and 45th day after sowing is recommended. For rice fallow pulses in Delta area, the present recommendation of foliar spray of 2% DAP may be continued.
Economizing the use of micronutrients through seed treatment for Green gram
Seed coating with bio-fertilizers and micronutrients viz., Zn, Mo & Co @ 4,1,0.5 g/kg of seed is recommended.
Multi Bloom Technology
A special technology is being practiced in Pattukottai block of Tanjore district for Green gram. The soil is alluvial and rich in organic matter and nutrients. The crop is sown during early summer (Jan.-Feb.) as a normal crop and fertilizer is applied as per the recommendation for irrigated crop. In addition to that, top dressing of Nitrogen is done with an extra dose of 25 to 30 kg through urea.Since pulses have indeterminate growth habit and continue to produce new flushes, the top dressing will be done on 40-45 days after sowing.
The crop completes its first flushes of matured pods during 60-65th day and put further second newflush within 20-25 days. Therefore, two flushes of pods can be harvested at a time within the duration of 100 days..
Harvesting
During harvesting, proper care should be taken to minimize quantitative and qualitative losses.
Following care should be taken during harvesting:
Harvesting should be done at proper maturity to ensure optimum grain quality and consumer acceptance.
- Harvesting before the maturity of crop, usually result in lower yields, higher proportion of immature seeds, poor grain quality and more chances of infestation during storage
- Delay in harvesting of Green gram, results in shattering of pods and other losses caused by birds, rats, insects etc. The best time to harvest the crop is when 80 percent of the pods are fully matured
- Avoid harvesting during adverse weather condition i.e. rains and overcast weather
- Use right kind of harvest equipment (sickle)
- Avoid pest infestation prior to harvesting
- The harvested bundles should be kept in one direction in order to ascertain efficient threshing
- Keep the harvested bundles for drying in the field after cutting on the threshing floor, if weather permits
- The harvested produce should be stacked in a dry, clean place in cubical way to facilitate circulation of the air around
- Rogue out the admixtures prior to harvesting
- Keep the different harvested Green gram varieties separately to get true to type variety (grains).
Pre Harvest constraints of farmers
Logistic Problems in Crop Protection
Logistic problems have been recognized as a major hindrance to a virile and effective crop protection programme. For instance, farmers may recognize a problem situation in the field but may not understand its causes. This calls for training of more extension workers and sending them to the rural suburbs to assist farmers Another logistic problem in crop protection is inadequate plant quarantine and sanitation programmes. At the national level, a system of quick response (within 48 hours) to a reported case of outbreak of pests and diseases should be adopted to salvage crops and prevent total failure and great loss to farmers
Social Problem
Plant protection problems have their social aspect. For instance, an individual farmer cannot take effective measures against pests which ravage over a large territory; in which case a joint action with his neighbours is necessary. An example is illustrated with grass hopper (Z. variegatus) infestation. Preventive measures should be taken in the locations where the eggs are laid, such as burning old tree stumps, heaps of uprooted weeds and avoiding damp places in general. Eggs are most effectively destroyed by raking them out so that they dry in the sun. Nest sites are comparatively rare, usually one or two per hectare. (For effective control, the destruction of all nest sites over a large area by all farmers is necessary. One farmer acting alone will have limited effect, whereas joint action can reduce the succeeding population of grasshoppers by 70 – 80%. Another social problem in the crop protection is inadequate price incentives to the farmers particularly when inclement weather strikes. Price incentive is necessary to guarantee farmers a good reward for their efforts. Also, excess produce should be purchased by the state governments and stored as strategic grain reserves. All these would encourage farmers to produce more so as to feed the teeming population in the country.