Greengram
Greengram (Moong) Cultivation Guide: Sowing, Seed Rate & Care
Complete guide to growing greengram / moong — sowing time, seed rate and spacing, Rhizobium seed treatment, irrigation, nutrition and pod-borer management for a high-yield short-duration pulse crop.
By the Varsha Seeds Agronomy Team · Updated Fri Jul 03
Greengram (moong) is the most flexible pulse a farmer can grow — a 60–70 day crop that fits Kharif, summer or the gap between two main crops, adds ready income and leaves nitrogen behind for the next crop. Its short duration is its strength and its risk: with so little time, an even stand and clean flowering decide the yield.
Soil and seedbed preparation
Moong grows on most soils but prefers a well-drained loam with good organic matter and near-neutral pH. It cannot tolerate waterlogging or salinity. Give one or two ploughings and planking for a fine, level, weed-free bed. Good drainage is essential — standing water at flowering causes heavy flower drop.
Sowing time, seed rate and spacing
- Seasons: Kharif (June–July) and summer (March–April, irrigated)
- Seed rate: ~15–20 kg/ha (Kharif); up to 20–25 kg/ha for the denser summer crop
- Spacing: about 30 cm between rows × 10 cm between plants
- Depth: 3–4 cm into moist soil
Line sowing at the right depth gives the uniform stand a short-duration crop depends on. In the summer crop, closer spacing compensates for the smaller plant size.
Seed treatment and inoculation
Treat first with a fungicide against seed-borne disease, then inoculate with the correct Rhizobium culture for good nodulation and biological nitrogen. This costs little and improves both yield and the soil left for the next crop.
Irrigation
The Kharif crop is mostly rainfed; the summer crop needs regular irrigation. In both, protect the two moisture-sensitive stages:
| Stage | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Flowering | Stress causes flower drop and fewer pods |
| Pod filling | Sets seed size and final yield |
Drain excess water quickly in Kharif — moong is far less tolerant of waterlogging than of a short dry spell.
Nutrition
As a legume, moong needs only a small starter dose of nitrogen with adequate phosphorus, applied basally on a soil-test basis. Phosphorus supports nodulation and pod set. Avoid heavy nitrogen, which pushes leafy growth at the cost of pods.
Weed and pest control
- Weeds: keep the crop weed-free for the first 20–30 days — critical in such a short-duration crop — with a pre-emergence herbicide and/or one inter-cultivation.
- Yellow mosaic virus: choose tolerant varieties and manage the whitefly vector early.
- Pod borers: scout at flowering and podding, and spray on threshold; the pod stage is where yield is won or lost.
Harvest
Moong pods mature unevenly and shatter if over-ripe. Pick in 1–2 pickings as pods blacken, or harvest the whole crop when most pods have matured, then thresh promptly to protect grain quality.
Putting it together
Sow in lines on good moisture with treated, inoculated seed, keep the first month weed-free, protect flowering and podding from both drought and waterlogging, and stay ahead of whitefly and pod borer. See the pulses pillar guide for the wider picture, time your crop with the Kharif sowing calendar, and consider Ananta greengram or Varsha-11 blackgram for a dependable short-duration pulse.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the seed rate for moong (greengram)?
Use about 15–20 kg/ha for Kharif and up to 20–25 kg/ha for the denser summer crop. Moong is small-seeded, so a full, evenly distributed stand matters more than in most crops.
When is greengram sown?
Moong is grown in two windows: Kharif (June–July with the monsoon) and summer (March–April under irrigation). Being a short-duration crop of about 60–70 days, it also fits neatly as a catch crop between two main crops.
How do I control yellow mosaic and pod borer in moong?
Yellow mosaic virus is spread by whitefly, so choose tolerant varieties and manage whitefly early. For pod borers, scout at flowering and podding and spray a recommended insecticide on threshold — the pod stage is when most avoidable yield is lost.
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