Mung Bean (Moong)

1. Land Preparation One or two ploughings and planking. Mung fits between wheat and the next crop, so land is often prepared in a hurry — even so, level it, because uneven fields waterlog and mung dies in standing water. 2.

Both Sowing Mar–Jun Harvest Oct–Nov 8–12 maund per acre

Land Preparation

One or two ploughings and planking. Mung fits between wheat and the next crop, so land is often prepared in a hurry — even so, level it, because uneven fields waterlog and mung dies in standing water.

Sowing Time & Method

Spring crop: March. Kharif crop: late June to July with the monsoon. Rows 12 inches apart, 1–2 inches deep.

Seed Rate & Treatment

8–10 kg per acre. Rhizobium inoculant is worth the small cost.

Fertilizer

One bag DAP at sowing. Mung fixes nitrogen and leaves the soil better for the following wheat, which is a large part of why it is grown.

Irrigation

Two to three irrigations. The one at pod filling matters most. Stop watering once pods start to dry or the crop will not mature evenly.

Weed Control

Weed Damage Control Product
Horse Purslane (Itsit) Spreads flat over the young crop as soon as it gets warmth and moisture — the early irrigations in a March crop, the first rains in a June–July crop — and takes the moisture and nitrogen at branching, leaving fewer pods on every plant. Hoeing at 25–30 days, before it sets seed
Purple Nutsedge (Deela) Its tubers sit in the same shallow layer as the moong roots and take the nitrogen through branching, so the plants stay short and set fewer pods. Hoe between the rows at 25–30 days and carry the tubers out of the field — cutting the shoots only brings it back
Jungle Rice (Swanki) Keeps pace with the crop from the start and takes the water and nitrogen at flowering, so the pods fill light. Hoeing at 25–30 days; sow clean seed and cut any escapes before they shed seed
Wild Amaranth (Chulai) Shoots up above the canopy and shades the crop while the pods are filling, so the grain fills light. Pull out by hand before it flowers

One hoeing at 25–30 days.

Insect Pests

Whitefly is the real danger because it carries yellow mosaic virus, not because of the sap it takes. Control it early. Jassid and pod borer also occur.

Diseases

Yellow mosaic virus turns leaves bright yellow in patches and stunts the plant. There is no spray for the virus — control whitefly and pull out infected plants as soon as they appear. Cercospora leaf spot follows humid weather.