Moong (Green Gram / Mung Bean – Vigna radiata)
Importance
- Shortest duration pulse crop (60–100 days) → fits well in multiple cropping systems.
- Improves soil fertility through N fixation (30–40 kg N/ha).
- Highly digestible protein → suitable for children, sick & elderly.
- Consumed as dal, sprouts, snacks, sweets, dosa, idli, etc.
- Important export pulse of India.
Origin
- Believed to have originated in the India–Burma region.
- Domesticated from wild relatives in South Asia.
Nutritional Value
- Protein: 22–24%
- Carbohydrates: ~60%
- Fat: 1.2%
- Rich in iron, calcium, potassium, folate
- Sprouted moong: High in Vitamin C
Area & Production in India
Top States (Area) | Top States (Production) |
Rajasthan | Rajasthan |
Maharashtra | Maharashtra |
Andhra Pradesh | Andhra Pradesh |
Karnataka | Madhya Pradesh |
Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh | Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh |
Botanical Description
- Family: Leguminaceae (sub-family Papilionaceae)
- Root: Tap root with nodules.
- Plant type: Erect/bushy, 30–60 cm tall.
- Flowers: Yellow, papilionaceous.
- Fruit: Slender cylindrical pod (6–10 cm) with green seeds.
- Photosynthesis: C3 plant.
Agronomic Practices
Aspect | Details |
Seedbed | Well-pulverized, fine tilth |
Sowing Time | – Kharif: June–July |
Seed Rate | 15–20 kg/ha (rainfed) |
Spacing | 30 × 10 cm (rainfed) |
Depth | 4–5 cm |
Fertilizer | 20 kg N + 40–60 kg P₂O₅ / ha (basal) |
Irrigation | Mostly rainfed; critical at flowering & pod filling |
Duration | 60–100 days |
Yield | 8–10 q/ha (rainfed) |
Management Practices
- Seed treatment: Rhizobium + PSB inoculation for better nodulation.
- Weed control: 2 hand weedings (20 DAS & 40 DAS). Pre-emergence Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha
- Cropping system:
- Intercrop with maize, sorghum, pigeon pea, sugarcane, cotton.
- Sequential: Wheat → Moong → Rice (popular in North India).
Major Diseases
- Yellow Mosaic Virus (YMV) – transmitted by whitefly. Resistant varieties: Pusa Vishal, HUM-12, IPM-02-3. Whitefly control with Imidacloprid.
- Cercospora Leaf Spot – Mancozeb 0.2% spray.
- Powdery Mildew – sulphur dusting / Karathane.
- Root rot/wilt – Carbendazim + Trichoderma seed treatment.
Major Insect Pests
- Whitefly (YMV vector)
- Pod borers (Helicoverpa, Maruca) – neem extracts, NPV, Spinosad.
- Aphids, Jassids, Thrips – neem oil or systemic insecticides.
Varieties
- High-yielding: Pusa-9531, PDM-11, HUM-1, Pant Moong-4
- YMV-resistant: Pusa Vishal, Pusa Ratna, HUM-12, IPM-02-3
- Short duration (55–65 days): Pusa-9072, SML-668
Quick Facts
- Origin: India–Burma region
- Protein: 22–24%
- Duration: 60–100 days
- Seed rate: 15–25 kg/ha
- Spacing: 30 × 10 cm
- Critical irrigation: Flowering & Pod filling
- Major disease: YMV
- Major pest: Pod borers
- Best suited for rice–wheat cropping system (summer moong)
