IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2019) 10-2

Research articleerd

Comparative Study on Pulse Production with Different
Practices: A Case Study of Mungbean and Black Gram
KHIN MAR OO*
Yezin Agricultural University, Myanmar
Email: khinmaroo06@gmail.com

HTAY HTAY OO
Yezin Agricultural University, Myanmar

NYEIN NYEIN HTWE
Yezin Agricultural University, Myanmar

HLA THAN
Yezin Agricultural University, Myanmar
Received 15 December 2018

Accepted 20 October 2019(*Corresponding Author)

Abstract Pulses play a vital role in contributing to food security and enhancing soil fertility.
In Myanmar, pulses are the second most important crop after rice, and have a high potential
for export. Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) and black gram (Vigna mungo L.) are the major
species of pulses that are widely grown throughout the country. The actual yield obtained at
the farm level is still lower than the potential yield and pulse farmers are facing various
problems and constraints. Considerable improvements of crop management practices areneeded in pulse cultivation. Field experiments were conducted at Thongwa Township(lower Myanmar) and Pyinmana Township (middle Myanmar) from November 2017 toMarch 2018 to investigate the effect of crop management practices on yield and suitabilityof mungbean and black gram varieties grown in the study areas. Each experimental area
was laid out in a split-plot design with four replications. Two crop management practices(Recommended practice and Farmers’ actual practice) were assigned to each main plot andfour varieties of mungbean (Yezin-1, Yezin-9, Yezin-11 and Yezin-14) were planted at theThongwa Township sites and black gram (Yezin-2, Yezin-5, Yezin-6 and Yezin-7) at thePyinmana Township site, being assigned to sub plots. The results reveal that more yield andyield components were obtained in mungbean varieties grown following recommended
practices than by farmers’ practices. However, the yield and yield components of black
gram varieties are not significantly different between the two crop management practices.
All mungbean varieties tested, except Yezin-11, are suitable for cultivation in Thongwa
Township. Of the black gram varieties tested in Pyinmana Township, only Yezin-7 isunsuitable. Therefore, it is necessary to further investigate and possibly amend therecommended practices for these particular areas to improve the production of mungbean
and black gram in these areas. In addition, demonstration plots that make use of theserecommended practices should be organized to improve the awareness of farmers of theadvantages of these techniques.
Keywords recommended practices, farmers’ practices, mungbean, black gram, yield

INTRODUCTION
Pulses play a vital role in their contribution to food security and enhancement of soil fertility. Theirinclusion as part of cereal-based cropping systems improves soil health by enriching organicnitrogen, reducing the demand for the application of chemical fertilizers, and increasing soil microflora (Dasgupta and Roy, 2016). In Myanmar, pulses are the second most important crop and havea high export potential. Currently, about 4.2 million ha is planted to pulses, with yields in 2016Ⓒ ISERD97

IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2019) 10-2

2017 ranging from 0.7 to 1.3 metric tons per hectare (GAIN, 2017). In Myanmar, black gram,mungbean, pigeon pea, chickpea, cow pea, red kidney bean, velvet bean, and soybean are mostly
grown (Soe and Kyaw, 2016). Because of their export potential, mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) andblack gram (Vigna mungo L.) are widely sown as a second crop after monsoon rice in areas where
soil residual moisture is adequate for pulses.
The potential yields for mungbean and black gram determined by the Department ofAgricultural Research (DAR, 2016) are approximately 1.6 - 2.0-ton ha-1 and 1.6 - 3.2-ton ha-1,respectively. However, the actual yield obtained at the farm level is lower than this and pulse
farmers face various problems and constraints, which result in a yield gap exists between farmers’
actual yields and potential yields. In order to enhance and sustain pulse productivity closer topotential, considerable improvements in crop management practices are necessary.
Some of the factors responsible for the low yields are the poor preparation of soil prior tosowing, the unbalanced use of fertilizers and ineffective practices used to protect growing plants(Bakoriya, 2015). An improved package of crop management practices, including ensuring thetimely availability of all inputs and more efficient application of these would enhance not only
productivity, nutritional quality and profitability but also environmental and social sustainability.
Timely sowing, regular weeding, effective and staged control of pests and diseases and better
harvesting methods could all play a part the development of a viable strategy.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of this research is to investigate the effect of crop management practices on yield andto determine the most suitable varieties of mungbean and black gram to cultivate in the study areas.
METHODOLOGY
Study Site
The growing period for mungbean and black gram as a second crop after the monsoon rice harvestis short, and the study sites selected are in Yangon Region and Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory whereresidual soil moisture conditions allow these pulse crops to be widely grown. Field experiments
were conducted at Nankale Village, Thongwa Township, Yangon Region which lies between
16°73‘01''- 1674'68'' N and 9656'08''- 9657'87'' E and Kyee Inn Village, Pyinmana Township,Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory which lies between 1970'66''- 1972'62'' N and 9622'43''- 9625'73''
E from November to March during 2017 and 2018 (Fig. 1).
PyinmanaTownship
Pyinmana
Township

Kyee Inn Village
KyeeVillage

Thongwa Township

Nankale Village

Fig. 1 Study areas at Nankale Village, Thongwa Township and Kyee Inn Village,
Pyinmana Township, MyanmarⒸ ISERD

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IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2019) 10-2

Experimental Design
Each experimental area was laid out in a split-plot design with four replications. Two cropmanagement practices (Recommended practice and Farmers’ actual practice) were employed on
the cultivation of four varieties of mungbean (Yezin-1, Yezin-9, Yezin-11 and Yezin-14) atThongwa Township and four of black gram (Yezin-2, Yezin-5, Yezin-6 and Yezin-7) at Pyinmana
Township in sub plots. The total area of each sub plot was 25m2 and these were 1m apart.
Crop Management Practices
The package of DOA recommended practices and the farmers’ actual practices commonly used in
the study areas were followed as crop management practices in main plot for each experimental
variety (Table 1) and (Table 2).
Table 1 DOA recommended practices and Farmers’ practices for mungbean cultivation
Factors
Land preparation
Sowing time
Variety used
Sowing method
Seed treatment
Weed management
Basal fertilizer used

Foliar fertilizer used
Pesticide used
Fungicide used

Recommended practices
Plowing - 1 time
Harrowing - 2 times
October - November
Yezin - 1
Line sowing - 30 to 40 kg ha-1
Broadcast - 60 kg ha-1
Seed treatment with fungicide
Weeding as necessary
Urea 50 kg ha-1, Triple super phosphate 125kg ha-1, Potash 60 kg ha-1, Gypsum 125 kg
ha-1
4 times for the whole season
As necessary based on scouting
As necessary

Farmers’ practices
Plowing - No
Harrowing - 3 times
November - December
Yezin -1, Yezin - 9, Yezin - 14
Broadcast - 60 kg ha-1
Not practiced
No weeding
Basal - Urea 60 kg ha-1,T super 60kg ha-1
2-12 times for the whole season
2-12 times for the whole season
1-3 times for the whole season

Table 2 DOA recommended practices and Farmers’ practices for black gram cultivation
Factors
Land preparation
Sowing timeVariety used
Sowing method
Seed treatment
Weed management
Basal fertilizer used

Foliar fertilizer used
Pesticide used
Fungicide used

Recommended practices

Farmers’ practices

Plowing - 1 time
Harrowing - 2 times
October - November
Yezin - 6
Line sowing - 30 to 40 kg ha-1
Broadcast - 60 kg ha-1
Seed treatment with fungicide

Plowing - No
Harrowing - 2 times
November - December
Yezin -2, Yezin - 5, Yezin - 6

Weeding as necessary
Urea 50 kg ha-1, Triple super phosphate
125 kg ha-1, Potash 60 kg ha-1, Gypsum
125 kg ha-14 times for the whole season
As necessary based on scouting
As necessaryNo weeding
Basal - Not practicedⒸ ISERD

99Broadcast - 60 kg ha-1
Not practiced

2-12 times for the whole season
2-12 times for the whole season
1-4 times for the whole season

IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2019) 10-2

Data Collection
Two sites, each of 1 m2 were sampled randomly from each plot at harvest time and plant population(m-2) was determined. Using five tagged sample plants from each plot the number of pods plant -1
and yield (g plant-1) was recorded. The 100 seeds weight (g) per plot was also recorded.
Economic Analysis
Total cost of production incurred to economic returns from the crop, Gross monetary return, Netmonetary return and Benefit Cost ratio were calculated (Cimmyt and Cimmyt, 1988).
B : C ratio = Net monetary returns (MMK ha-1) / Cost of cultivation (MMK ha-1)
Statistical Analysis
All relevant data were subjected by using the Statistix 8 program and sample mean comparisonswere computed using Least Significant Difference (LSD) at 5% level.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONPlant Population (m-2)
Plant population (m-2) at harvest shows statistically significant differences for the crop management
practices applied to the pulse varieties tested in both study areas (Table 3 and Table 4). Because of
the broadcast sowing method farmers’ practice, plant population at harvest may be greater thanareas where was sown usint the recommended line sowing method. Although plant population (m-2)
for the mungbean varieties tested was not affected by crop management practices, significant
differences occurred for black gram varieties tested.
Table 3 Yield and yield components of mungbean at Thongwa Township
Treatments
Practices (A)GAP
Farmers’ practices
LSD0.05
Variety (B)Yezin-1
Yezin-9
Yezin-11
Yezin-14
LSD0.05
Main
SubPractices  Variety
CV% (a)CV% (b)

Plant m-2

Pods plant-1

100 Seed weight (g)Yield plant-1 (g)

33 b
48 a
4.2

14.81 a11.69 b2.37

5.55 a5.24 b
0.04

3.62 a2.48 b
0.62

44 a
44 a
43 a
28 b
3.2
**
**
ns
9.40
7.68

13.87 a12.50 a12.25 a14.37 a
2.49
*
nsns
15.94
17.89

5.17 c5.84 a5.22 bc
5.35 b
0.17
**
**
ns
0.61
3.08

3.17 ab2.89 bc
2.34 c3.81 a
0.48
*
**
ns
22.54
20.90

There was a statistically significant difference for the number of pods plant -1 depending oncrop management practices for mungbean, however, not so for black gram (Table 3 and Table 4).
Perhaps aeration among mungbean plants in line sowing may induce the bearing of more pods
plant-1 than broadcast sowing. Although the number of pods plant-1 showed no significant
difference for the pulse varieties tested, the Yezin-6 black gram variety attained the highest numberⒸ ISERD

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IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2019) 10-2of pods plant-1 (Fig. 2b). Also, the number of pods plant-1 for the tested major pulse varieties crop
were not affected by the different management practices.
Number of Pods Plant-1(b)(a)

Fig. 2 Effect of recommended practices (RP) and farmers’ practices (FP) on yieldand yield components of (a) mungbean and (b) black gram
100 Seeds Weight (g)There was a statistically significant difference for 100 seeds weight for the mungbean varieties
tested as a result of different crop management practices (Table 3). Consistent with the varietal
characteristic of Yezin-9, the highest 100 seeds weight was recorded for this strain (Fig. 2a).
Though the 100 seeds weight among black gram varieties did show significantly difference, Yezin6 exhibited the lowest 100 seeds weight (Fig. 2b).
Table 4 Yield and yield components of black gram at Pyinmana Township
Treatments
Practices (A)GAP
Farmers’ practices
LSD0.05
Variety (B)Yezin-2
Yezin-5
Yezin-6
Yezin-7
LSD0.05
Main
SubPractices  Variety
CV% (a)CV% (b)

Plant m-2

Pods plant-1

100 Seed weight (g)Yield plant-1 (g)

31 b
57 a
4.4

15.56 a12.94 a5.21

5.28 a5.00 a0.66

2.63 a1.85 a
0.91

47 a
45 a
45 a
39 b
5.3
**
*
*
8.86
11.46

14.50 ab14.62 ab16.25 a11.62 b
3.90
ns
ns
ns
32.51
26.08

5.46 a5.16 ab4.90 b
5.05 ab
0.51
ns
ns
ns
11.43
9.43

2.18 a2.18 a2.51 a2.09 a
0.43
ns
ns
ns
36.15
18.40

Yield Plant-1 (g)For the mungbean varieties, yield plant-1 (g) there was a statistically significant difference
according to crop management practice employed (Table 3). Mungbean variety of Yezin-14
attained the highest yield plant-1 (g) and the lowest was recorded in Yezin-11. On the contrary,
although there was no significant difference observed for black gram varieties tested under
different crop management practices, the lowest yield plant -1 (g) was observed for farmers’Ⓒ ISERD

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IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2019) 10-2

practices (Table 4). It is evident that plant population at harvest has a significant effect on pods
plant-1, seed weight and yield plant-1 for both mungbean and black gram varieties tested in the study(Table 5).
Table 5 Correlation between crop management practices and yield components of mungbean
and black gram
Green gramPlant
population

Pods plant-1
Seed weight
Yield plant-1- 0.531 **- 0.283- 0.643 **Pods
plant-1
0.119
0.345

seeds
weight0.045Black gramPlant
population

Pods
plant-1

seeds
weightPods plant-1
Seed weight
Yield plant-1- 0.237- 0.200- 0.671 **0.438 *
- 0.093- 0.254

Economic Analysis
Table 6 reveals that a higher benefit cost ratio (B:C) of 1.16 and 0.90 were recorded for mungbean
and black gram production respectively, using farmers’ practices. Because of the lower market
price of black gram compared to that of mungbean, black gram production has the lower benefit
cost ratio. The results clearly indicate that the market price of the crops significantly influence thenet monetary returns for farmers.
Table 6 Effect of crop management practices on economic of mungbean and black gram
(MMK ha-1)
Cost of cultivation
Gross monetary return
Net monetary return
Benefit cost ratio (B:C)

Mungbean
Recommended
Farmers’practices
practices
643,900
562’100
1,155,000
1,216,875
511,100
654;775
0.79
1.16Black gram
Recommended
Farmers’practices
practices606,400
411,250
631,250
781,250
24,850370,000
0.04
0.90

CONCLUSION
On the basis of the findings of one-year field investigation for both study areas, it can be concluded
that more yield (g plant-1) was obtained for mungbean varieties grown according to recommended
practices than those grown using farmers’ practices. In contrast, there was no significant difference
for black gram varieties grown under different crop management practices. Moreover, thesignificant effect of plant population (m-2) at harvest, on yield (g plan-1) for both mungbean andblack gram varieties, under both recommended and farmers’ practices should be considered not
only to increase productivity of pulse production but also increase net monetary returns of farmers.
All mungbean varieties tested except Yezin-11 were suitable in Thongwa Township. Of thoseblack gram varieties tested, Yezin-7 was not suitable for cultivation in Pyinmana Township.
Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the recommended practices for a particular area to sustain
the production of particular varieties of mungbean and black gram in that area. In addition,
demonstration plots that are location-specific should be cultivated to improve farmers knowledge.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to thank the generous financial and technical training support of Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Project for Capacity Development of Yezin AgriculturalUniversity. We also gratefully acknowledge Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Tanaka Koji and Dr.
Yoshinori Yamamoto for their generous technical and intellectual support and valuableⒸ ISERD102

IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2019) 10-2

involvement in this study. We are also appreciative to the authorized persons from Department ofAgriculture (DoA) and Department of Agricultural Research (DAR) for data provision.
REFERENCES
Bakoriya, L.L. 2015. Effect of different agronomic management practices on growth, development and yieldof summer mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) Wilczek, Master Thesis, Department of Agronomy, College ofAgriculture, Tikamgarh, 472 001, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Madhya Pradesh, 92.
Cimmyt, M. and Cimmyt, M. 1988. From agronomic data to farmer recommendations: An economics
training manual. CIMMYT.
Dasgupta, S. and Roy, I. 2016. Proceedings of the Regional Consultation on the Promotion of Pulses in Asia
for Multiple Health Benefits, Bangkok, Thailand, RAP Publication (FAO) eng no. 2015/05.
Department of Agricultural Research (DAR). 2016. Official recommendation on yield characters and cultural
practices of high yielding mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) and black gram (Vigna mungo L.), Ministry ofAgriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (MOALI), Union of Myanmar.
Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN). 2017. Burma - Union of grain and feed annual, Grain
Report Number, BM 7003, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, USA.
Soe Lin. and Kyaw Swar Win. 2016. Recent achievement in research and development of pulses in Myanmar.
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