Green Gram — Package of Practices
One of the quickest pulses there is — a 60–75 day catch crop that builds the soil; keep whitefly and thrips in check and pick as the pods blacken.
Overview
Green gram (moong) is one of the shortest-duration pulses, grown for its protein-rich seed and as a quick, soil-enriching catch crop between main seasons.
Because it matures so fast, a clean early start, control of whitefly and thrips, and prompt picking are what secure the yield.
Climate & season
Green gram likes warm weather (about 25–35 °C).
- Grown in kharif and in summer (often after wheat).
- Very short duration — an ideal catch crop.
- Sensitive to waterlogging and heavy rain at maturity.
Soil & land preparation
Best on a well-drained loam at pH 6.2–7.2.
- Prepare a fine, weed-free seedbed.
- Mix in 5–8 t/ha farmyard manure.
- Good drainage is essential.
Choosing a type & seed
Choose short, synchronous-maturing, yellow-mosaic-tolerant types. No specific cultivar is named here.
Seed rate
- Kharif: 12–15 kg/ha.
- Summer: 20–25 kg/ha (closer stand).
- Sow 3–4 cm deep.
Seed treatment
- Treat with a recommended fungicide, then a Rhizobium culture.
- Protects seedlings and aids nodulation.
Sowing & spacing
- Sow with the rains, or with irrigation in summer.
- Keep rows 30 cm apart.
- Space plants about 10 cm within the row.
- Sow 3–4 cm deep for a quick, even stand.
- Plan for two or three pickings as pods ripen.
Nutrient management
As a legume the crop fixes much of its own nitrogen, so heavy nitrogen is wasteful; give only a light starter dose with good phosphorus. A Rhizobium seed treatment improves fixation.
| Input | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Farmyard manure | 5–8 t/ha | Basal |
| Nitrogen (N) | 20 kg/ha | Light starter only |
| Phosphorus (P₂O₅) key | 40 kg/ha | Roots, nodules & pods |
Water management
Rainfed in kharif; summer crops are irrigated.
- Most sensitive at flowering and pod filling.
- Give light, timely irrigations in summer.
- Avoid waterlogging and excess moisture at maturity.
Weed management
- Keep the first 3–4 weeks weed-free.
- One or two weedings (or a recommended herbicide) suffice.
- Early weed control matters on this fast crop.
Plant protection
| Problem | Type | Watch for | Manage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow mosaic virus | Disease | Yellow mottling and stunting | Tolerant types, control whitefly early, rogue affected plants |
| Whitefly | Pest | White flies under leaves; they spread the virus | Yellow sticky traps, neem, recommended insecticide early |
| Thrips | Pest | Flower drop, silvery damaged flowers | Monitor at flowering; recommended insecticide if needed |
| Pod borer | Pest | Holed pods, caterpillar inside | Handpick, Bt or recommended insecticide at threshold |
| Cercospora leaf spot / powdery mildew | Disease | Leaf spots; white powdery growth | Spacing, recommended fungicide if severe |
- Sow a tolerant type and watch whitefly and thrips from early growth.
- Use yellow sticky traps and rogue out mosaic-affected plants.
- Conserve natural enemies; act at the threshold.
- Spray only when needed, following the label.
Use crop-protection inputs responsibly
Read the label, use the recommended dose, wear protective gear while spraying, and strictly observe the pre-harvest (waiting) interval before picking — on crops harvested repeatedly this matters at every picking. Prefer cultural and biological methods first and spray only when monitoring shows it is needed.
Harvesting & yield
Pick when pods mature and turn dark, in two or three flushes, generally 60–75 days.
- Dry, thresh and clean the seed promptly.
- Yields of about 0.8–1.2 t/ha are typical; the crop leaves the soil richer.
Related crops
Green Gram — Package of Practices
One of the quickest pulses there is — a 60–75 day catch crop that builds the soil; keep whitefly and thrips in check and pick as the pods blacken.
Overview
Green gram (moong) is one of the shortest-duration pulses, grown for its protein-rich seed and as a quick, soil-enriching catch crop between main seasons.
Because it matures so fast, a clean early start, control of whitefly and thrips, and prompt picking are what secure the yield.
Climate & season
Green gram likes warm weather (about 25–35 °C).
- Grown in kharif and in summer (often after wheat).
- Very short duration — an ideal catch crop.
- Sensitive to waterlogging and heavy rain at maturity.
Soil & land preparation
Best on a well-drained loam at pH 6.2–7.2.
- Prepare a fine, weed-free seedbed.
- Mix in 5–8 t/ha farmyard manure.
- Good drainage is essential.
Choosing a type & seed
Choose short, synchronous-maturing, yellow-mosaic-tolerant types. No specific cultivar is named here.
Seed rate
- Kharif: 12–15 kg/ha.
- Summer: 20–25 kg/ha (closer stand).
- Sow 3–4 cm deep.
Seed treatment
- Treat with a recommended fungicide, then a Rhizobium culture.
- Protects seedlings and aids nodulation.
Sowing & spacing
- Sow with the rains, or with irrigation in summer.
- Keep rows 30 cm apart.
- Space plants about 10 cm within the row.
- Sow 3–4 cm deep for a quick, even stand.
- Plan for two or three pickings as pods ripen.
Nutrient management
As a legume the crop fixes much of its own nitrogen, so heavy nitrogen is wasteful; give only a light starter dose with good phosphorus. A Rhizobium seed treatment improves fixation.
| Input | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Farmyard manure | 5–8 t/ha | Basal |
| Nitrogen (N) | 20 kg/ha | Light starter only |
| Phosphorus (P₂O₅) key | 40 kg/ha | Roots, nodules & pods |
Water management
Rainfed in kharif; summer crops are irrigated.
- Most sensitive at flowering and pod filling.
- Give light, timely irrigations in summer.
- Avoid waterlogging and excess moisture at maturity.
Weed management
- Keep the first 3–4 weeks weed-free.
- One or two weedings (or a recommended herbicide) suffice.
- Early weed control matters on this fast crop.
Plant protection
| Problem | Type | Watch for | Manage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow mosaic virus | Disease | Yellow mottling and stunting | Tolerant types, control whitefly early, rogue affected plants |
| Whitefly | Pest | White flies under leaves; they spread the virus | Yellow sticky traps, neem, recommended insecticide early |
| Thrips | Pest | Flower drop, silvery damaged flowers | Monitor at flowering; recommended insecticide if needed |
| Pod borer | Pest | Holed pods, caterpillar inside | Handpick, Bt or recommended insecticide at threshold |
| Cercospora leaf spot / powdery mildew | Disease | Leaf spots; white powdery growth | Spacing, recommended fungicide if severe |
- Sow a tolerant type and watch whitefly and thrips from early growth.
- Use yellow sticky traps and rogue out mosaic-affected plants.
- Conserve natural enemies; act at the threshold.
- Spray only when needed, following the label.
Use crop-protection inputs responsibly
Read the label, use the recommended dose, wear protective gear while spraying, and strictly observe the pre-harvest (waiting) interval before picking — on crops harvested repeatedly this matters at every picking. Prefer cultural and biological methods first and spray only when monitoring shows it is needed.
Harvesting & yield
Pick when pods mature and turn dark, in two or three flushes, generally 60–75 days.
- Dry, thresh and clean the seed promptly.
- Yields of about 0.8–1.2 t/ha are typical; the crop leaves the soil richer.