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AVRDC Extension Materials |
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Suggested Cultural Practices for Mungbean |
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Selecting a variety Mungbean is an ancient and well-known crop in Asia. It is often included in rice or wheat-based cropping systems in the tropics and subtropics. The traditional mungbean varieties under cultivation in many countries are often inferior. They are late maturing, require a long harvesting period, low yielding, and susceptible to disease. |
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AVRDC has developed several superior lines for production in the tropics and subtropics. These lines are early and uniformly maturing, high yielding, and disease-resistant. Early (55-65 days) and uniform maturing mungbeans easily fit into multiple cropping systems. The harvesting cost is reduced too. Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia have released early maturing cultivars such as Chainat 60. BPI Mg7 and Merpati, respectively, using AVRDC mungbean lines. AVRDC-improved mungbeans have been named and released directly, or used as parents in breeding programs of different countries. Examples of such varieties are NURI (Indonesia), SML-668 and Pusa Vishal (India), NM-92 (Pakistan), PSU1 (Thailand) and Er Lu No. 2 (China). |
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Preparing the field Prepare the field by plowing, harrowing and leveling. Application of fertilizer is recommended based on soil analysis and availability of soil nutrients. In AVRDC fields, a fertilizer mix containing N, P2O5 and K2O at the rate of 15, 60 and 100 kg/ha, respectively is broadcasted and incorporated into the soil before planting. Sidedressing of nitrogen at 15 kg/ha is done at flowering stage. |
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Prepare raised beds that stand 20 cm high. Beds should be spaced one meter apart from the center of one bed to the center of the next. |
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Sowing Sow seeds on raised beds in two rows per bed, spaced 45 cm apart. The seed rate varies with seed size and season. It is usually 20 kg/ha in spring and autumn, and 16 kg/ha in summer. The number of plants maintained per meter row length is 20 in spring and autumn, and 15 in summer. |
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Controlling weeds Practice intertillage by hand or cultivator once or twice to promote healthy growth. |
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Irrigating Later apply two to three more irrigations at 10 to15 day intervals during the dry season. Generally, no irrigation is needed during the rainy season except when drought occurs. |
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Controlling diseases Mungbean Yellow Mosaic Virus (MYMV) is the most serious problem of mungbean in the Indian subcontinent. Infected plants become chlorotic and stunted. Planting of MYMV-tolerant/resistant varieties is the best control measure. |
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Powdery mildew
(Erysiphe polygoni) occurs under cool temperature (20–26
ºC) and is favored by cloudy weather. It can cause up to
40% yield loss. In the early stage the disease appears as light
yellowish irregular spots on leaves which turn brown quickly
. A powdery mass grows over the spots covering the entire leaf
surface. To control powdery mildew, sow resistant varieties, if available. If sowing susceptible varieties, fungicides may be needed to protect the crop. Fungicide applications may begin three weeks after emergence. Consult extension specialists for the proper fungicide and follow all instructions on the label of the product. |
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Cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora spp.) commonly attacks mungbeans in the tropics. Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) is recognized by the appearance of leaf spots that are circular to irregularly shaped with grayish white centers and reddish brown to dark brown margins. It can cause yield losses of up to 58%. The losses due to CLS disease can be avoided by planting resistant cultivars. Crop debris and weed hosts should also be removed at the time of planting. When susceptible cultivars are planted, spray with fungicides such as chlorothalonil at 2 kg a.i./ha at two-week intervals. |
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Controlling insect pests Mungbeans must be protected against beanflies. At AVRDC, monocrotophos or omethoate or dimethoate is sprayed at 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 days after emergence. The first three sprays are very important and must not be delayed. |
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Aphids, especially black legume aphid (Aphis craccivora), can attack mungbean. If you notice unusually high aphid populations (over 20 insects/plant), spray an insecticide such as dimethoate weekly until aphids are eradicated. |
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Mungbean is also infested by pod borers (Maruca testulalis and Ostrinia furnacalis). When infestation of pod borers is very severe over large areas of your field, spray chlorpyrifos or fenvalerate at weekly intervals, until the infestation is controlled. |
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Mungbean is sometimes attacked by stink bugs (Nezara viridula and other species). If you observe unusually high populations of this pest (3–4 insects/meter row) uniformly over an entire field when pods are still green, spray with fenvalerate or deltamethrin at weekly intervals until the infestation stops. |
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Bruchids (Callosobruchus
chinensis and C. maculatus), commonly called pulse
beetles or cowpea weevils, attack mungbean both in field and
storage. But the greater losses occur in stored grains. The nutritional
quality of the grains deteriorates because of bruchid infestation
rendering them unmarketable. To control bruchids, clean storage area properly, dry seeds well, and apply non-toxic chemicals such as vegetable oils. For large-scale storage, fumigation with phosphine or other suitable fumigants can be adopted. Always follow the label directions when using any pesticide. |
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Harvesting Harvest when pods are mature and dry, but before they start shattering. Manual harvesting is usually practiced, but mechanical harvesting can save on labor costs. Defoliation of the plants is needed before mechanical harvesting. Ethrel, at 39.5% a.i. and 500 times dilution, will defoliate 90% of foliage without harming seed quality. |
| Taken from Harvesting High Yield and Quality Mungbean, written by G. Lal, D. Kim, and S. Shanmugasundaram. 1990. Updated in 2002. Edited by T. Kalb. |
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