Introduction
- Blackgram: Vigna mungo
- Greengram: Vigna radiate
- Family: Leguminosae
Importance
- Are excellent source of high-quality protein.
- Sprouted seeds of Green gram contain ascorbic acid, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine; and black gram is rich in phosphoric acid.
- The haulms can be used as green fodder and the husks and split beans as livestock feed.
- Due to deep root system, they bind the soil and hence prevent erosion.
- They are excellent manure that easily decompose when incorporated.
- They are used in making various snacks and dishes or can be eaten as salad, soup and vegetables.
- The estimated N fixation is 63-342 kg/ha/year by green gram.
- They are short duration crops, hence are ideal crops as intercrop and catch-crop.
Origin and distribution
- Origin of mungbean and blackgram is India and Central Asia.