How to Grow Mung Bean Successfully: Green Gram Farming in India

Table of Contents 

• What is Green Gram? 
• What are the uses of Green Gram Plant? 
• Which are the Popular Green Gram Varieties in India? 
• What is the step-by-step Green Gram Cultivation Process in India? 
  • Soil
  • Climate
  • Land Preparation
  • Seed Treatment
  • Seed Rate & Sowing
  • Intercropping
  • Irrigation
  • Fertilizer Management
  • Crop Protection
  • Harvest & Post Harvest Activities

What is Green Gram? 

Green Gram, popularly known as mung bean or moong, is a small, oval-shaped, green legume. It is a fast-growing, erect, and semi-erect plant with a sturdy taproot. It is native to India and is use in many South Indian cuisines. Green gram plants are an excellent source of high-quality protein. Mung bean is a short duration crop that easily fits into diverse cropping systems, including intercropping with different commercial crops. Green gram plants are grown in relatively dry tropical and subtropical areas. 

What are Some of the Different Ways Green Gram is Used?

• Green Gram or Moong is consumed as whole grain, sprouted form as well as dal in a variety of ways in homes. 
• Its beans are cooked fresh or dry and possess a mild, slightly sweet flavour. 
• They are widely used in curries, porridge, soups, and their split seeds are used to prepare dal all over the Indian subcontinent. 
• Fermented beans are used as an ingredient in many dishes. 

Which are the popular Green Gram Variety in India?

Here are some of the different varieties of Green Gram grown in India:

**MYMV - Mungbean Yellow Mosaic Virus, CLS- Cercospora Leaf Spot, BLS- Botrytis Leaf Spot, YMV - Yellow Mosaic Virus.

What is the step-by-step Green Gram Cultivation Process in India? 

Here are some of the farming practices for successful Green Gram Cultivation in India –

Soil

Green gram can be grown in a wide variety of soils ranging from laterite, black cotton and even sandy or clayey soil. However, for optimum growth, it is recommended that the soil should be well-drained loam to sandy loam, with a neutral pH of 6.5 – 7.5. Conduct a soil test before sowing to determine the nutrient content, pH, and salinity of the soil and make amendments accordingly.

Climate

Green gram is a kharif season crop. The sowing of the crop usually starts between the months of June and July, coinciding with the beginning of monsoon season. The crop requires a temperature range between 30-35^oC for optimal growth and moderate rainfall of about 60-80 cm.

Land Preparation

Plough the field 2-3 times to a depth of 15- 20 cm to break soil clods, uproot weeds and mix crop residue thoroughly. This will help create a fine side seed for uniform germination. Ensure the field is levelled well for proper irrigation, as water logging can be detrimental to root development.

Seed Treatment

Treat the seed with Thirum (2gm) +Carbendazim (1gm) or Carbendazim & Kepton (1gm+ 2gm) to control the soil & seed germinated disease. For sucking pest control seed treatment with Imidacloprid 70 WS @ 7g/ kg seed. It is also desirable to treat the seed with Rhizobium and PSB culture (5-7gm/kg seed).

Seed Rate & Sowing

For the Kharif season, use 15–20 kg of seed per hectare, sowing in rows spaced 45 cm apart, while during Rabi and Summer seasons, use 25–30 kg of seed per hectare, with rows spaced 30 cm apart. When grown as a companion crop with sugarcane, the seed rate should be 7–8 kg per hectare. Maintain a minimum plant-to-plant distance of 5 cm. Sowing can be done using a seed drill.

Intercropping

During kharif season, Green Gram is typically grown with maize, pearl millet, pigeon pea, and cotton as an intercrop. During spring, it is cultivated in a 2:1 ratio with sugarcane, with a row-to-row distance of 90 cm and a 30 cm distance between Green Gram. Intercropping with sunflower in a 2:6 ratio is also considered suitable.

The important crop rotations with Green Gram are given as under:

• Rice-Wheat-Moong (summer)
• Maize+Moong-Wheat-Moong
• Maize(early)-Potato(early)-wheat-Moong
• Sugarcane+Moong (summer 1:2)
• Cotton + Green gram (1:3 in Central India 60/90 cm paired row)

Irrigation

The crop should be irrigated according to the season of cultivation. During the Kharif season, it is typically rainfed and doesn't require frequent irrigation. However, under prolonged dry spells, one or two irrigations at flowering and pod formation stages are required. Pre-sowing irrigation also ensures adequate soil moisture for germination. Besides that, three irrigations should be provided at different stages:

• Pre-flowering Stage (20-25 days)
• Flowering Stage (25-40 days)
• Grain Filling Stage

In the summer season, irrigation must be supplied at 10–15-day intervals.

Fertilizer Management

Green gram grows well in naturally fertile soil. Apply 8–10 tonnes of compost or farmyard manure about 15 days before sowing. Then add 15–20 kg of nitrogen and 30–40 kg of phosphorus at sowing time. Fertilizer use should follow soil test recommendations. Normally 100 kg DAP/ha is enough for one hectare. Apply the fertilizer by drilling at time of sowing or just before sowing, placing it about 2–3 cm below the seed.

Crop Protection

Harvest & Post Harvest Activities

The crop is ready to be harvested when at least 80% of the pods are mature. To prevent breakage or shattering, it is advisable to pluck pods in one or two rounds. The plants can be harvested with a sickle and dried on the threshing floor. These are then threshed with sticks or with the help of a threshing machine. Clean seeds should be sun dried for 3-4 days to achieve an 8-10% moisture content before storing in appropriate bins.