Growing Food: A Guide to Food Production

Mung Bean

Phaseolus aureus (Syn. Vigna radiata)

Green Gram, Golden Gram, Jerusalem Pea, Oorud Bean;

Haricot Doré, Haricot Mungo*, Ambérique* (de Madagascar), Boubour (French);

Mungbohne (German); Judia Mung, Poroto Mung, Frijol de Oro (Spanish);

Chickasano, (Lubia)Chiroko* (Africa); Batong-hidjao*, Mongo, Mungo

(Philippines); Tientsin Green Bean (Asia); Tua Kiew, Tua Tawng, Tua Tong

(Thailand);

Mai (Pashtu)

*these are also names for Black Gram (a.k.a. Urd (Bean), Mash, Woolly Pyrol)
Phaseolus mungo Syn.Vigna mungo

There are more than 2000 types of this fast growing legume, which display a large

range of plant type, form and adaptation. The majority are 30–90 cm tall, while other

types are more than a metre high.

Two main types of mung bean are recognised: green gram, grown mainly for

human food, either cooked or as sprouts, and golden or yellow gram which is

mainly grown for hay and other animal food, or for a green manure or cover crop.

The mung bean is very similar to the black gram (see above); the two can be

distinguished as follows:

Black Gram Mung Bean

Pods

Seed

Hilum

Erect or sub-erect, with long

hairs. 4-10 seeds

Larger, oblong, smooth,

mainly black, sometimes

olive green, with “beak”

Concave

Spreading or reflexed, with short

hairs. 10-15 seeds

Smaller, round, mainly green,

sometimes yellow or blackish,

without “beak”

Flat, round, white

Mung beans are probably the most important bean crop in Asia and in large areas

East of Pakistan. They are also widely grown in India, Thailand, Indonesia,

Bangladesh, the Philippines, Africa, Australia and the Americas.

PLANTING

Propagation: by seed. Almost always self-pollinated.

Soil: must be well drained. Mung beans tolerate both alkaline and saline soils, but

are sensitive to acidic ones. Responds well to phosphatic fertilisers, in both granular

and foliar form.

Seed rate: 3–4 kg/ha when broadcast or intercropped, 5–22 kg/ha when grown in a

pure stand. 100 seeds weigh 2–4 g.

Seed spacing: very often broadcast. If in rows, 4–5 cm between plants, 25–88 cm

between rows.

Depth: 3–4 cm.

GROWING FOOD – THE FOOD PRODUCTION HANDBOOK 177