Listing description
Vigna aconitifolia is a drought resistant legume, commonly grown in arid and
semi-arid regions of India. It is commonly called mat bean, moth bean, matki, Turkish gram or dew
bean. The pods, sprouts and protein rich seeds of this crop are commonly
consumed in India. Moth bean can be grown on many soil types, and can also act
as a pasture legume.
Detailed description
Moth bean is an herbaceous creeping annual which grows
to approximately 40 cm high. Yellow flowers on its hairy and densely
packed branches develop into yellow-brown pods, 2 to 3 inches in length[1] The
seeds of these pods contain approximately 22–24% protein.
Due to its drought resistant qualities, its ability
to combat soil erosion and its high protein
content, moth bean has been identified as possibly a more significant food
source in the future. It has been
suggested that its suitability as a grain legume in semi-arid Africa should be
further investigated.
Description
Belonging to the family Fabaceae (sub-family
Faboideae), the moth bean is an herbaceous creeping annual that creates a
low-lying soil cover when fully grown.[4] Its stem can grow up
to 40 cm in height, with its hairy and dense-packed branches reaching a
span of up to 150 cm.[1] Yellow flowers
develop into a brown pod 2.5 to 5 cm in length, which holds 4 to 9 seeds
inside.[1] The rectangular
seeds exist in a variety of colours including, yellow-brown, whitish green and
mottled with black.[3]
History and geography
Moth bean is native to India and Pakistan, grown for
food production and as a forage and cover crop.[3] It is predominately
grown in India, although it has been cultivated in the United States,
Australia, Thailand and other parts of Asia. 1.5
million hectares of land is used in India for moth bean production, producing
approximately 0.4 million t/ha of seeds [4] While its presence in Sudan,
Somalia and other tropical countries of Africa has been noted, it has not been
a crop of great importance to this region. The potential of increased
production in this region in the future has been suggested.
Growing conditions
Moth bean, a short-day crop, is one of the most
drought resistant pulses in India. Grown at altitudes up to 1300m above sea
level, it has a wide pH range (3.5–10) and can tolerate slight salinity.[1] While dry sandy soil
is most suitable for production, moth bean can tolerate a variety of soil
types.[1] The low lying soil
cover the crop creates helps prevent soil erosion by preventing
moisture loss.[4]
Optimum production of moth bean occurs between 24–32
°C, but has been shown to tolerate up to 45 °C during the day. Growth is optimal at a constant
temperature. The moth bean is one
of the most drought resistant pulse in India, requiring little irrigation for
production. While optimal annual
rainfall for production is 500–750 mm, it is able to grow with 200–300 mm
annually, and some yield has been noted at rainfall levels as low as
50–60 mm per year. Propagation
of moth bean is done by seed, preferably on a prepared seedbed, at an optimal
temperature of 25–27 °C.[1] Fertilizer
applications to moth bean are uncommon in India.
Other farming issues
Moth bean is grown for both human consumption and as
a forage crop. Currently in India, moth bean is grown on its own or
intercropped with other cereals, such as pearl millet.[1] It is also grown in
rotation with cotton as a forage crop. When
grown as a forage crop, it is planted 7–34 kg/ha, and 10–20 kg/ha
when grown as the only crop.[1] Row planting should
be done 30–90 cm apart, with seeds sown 2.5–4 cm deep. It takes 75–90
days for moth bean to mature, and is frequently planted at the end of the rainy
season.
A drawback to this crop is its difficulty to
harvest. Mowers cannot be used due to the shape and density of the moth bean’s
branches, so the crop is typically cut with a sickle. It is threshed and winnowed after
being dried for approximately one week. Hay
yields from this crop are 7.5-10 t/ha, while forage matter yields range from
37-50 t/ha. Seed yields are currently low, ranging from 70–270 kg/ha. However, research shows that this crop
has the potential to increase in yield. Experimental seed yields of up to
2600 kg/ha have been recorded in the US and Australia.
Major pests and diseases
Moth bean is impacted by Mung Bean Yellow Mosaic Virus
(MYMV), for which Bemisia tabaci is the vector. Root rot and seedling blight from
Macrophomina phaseolina also causes damage, as well as some Striga species and
the nematode Meloidoigyne incognita. There
are some resistant cultivars to these pests and diseases.
Genetic stock
Little breeding work has been completed on the moth
bean, but researchers have found that there is substantial genetic variation
between moth bean germplasms. The
National Bureau of Plant Genetic resources in New Delhi, India, houses more
than 1000 accessions. Some improved cultivars such as ' CZM-2, CZM-3, ‘RMO-40’
and ‘RMO-225’are available in India.
Consumption
Whole or split moth bean seeds can be cooked or
fried. In India, the seeds are traditionally consumed for breakfast, after
being sprouted and cooked.[7] Fried splits make up
a ready-to-eat traditional namkeen, or savory dry snack, in India called dalmoth [7] and can be used to
make traditional dal.[1] The moth bean pods
can be boiled and eaten, and seeds can be ground into flour that
is used for another traditional namkeen called bhujia. It is believed that consumption of
the seeds can help treat a fever. Moth bean is also
consumed as a forage crop by animals.
Constraints to wider adaptation
While its drought tolerance and high protein content
could make moth bean a potential crop choice for semi-arid Africa, a lack of
management knowledge and the difficulty of harvest due to its density and
creeping nature could make its spread to other parts of the world difficult. Further research
into more
PRICE
$10.45/KG OR $4.75/IB
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