1.Kharif greengram
The kharif crop is grown both as sole and as intercrop. Since it is largely grown as a rainfed crop, the sowing time usually depends on the onset of the monsoon in the different regions. Normally the sowing is done from mid-June to second week of July, which is considered optimum. Delayed sowings would result in progressive decline in yields.

Soil and climatic requirements. Greengram usually grows on a wide range of soils varying from sandy loam to alluvial, red laterite or black cotton soils. However, it has been observed that crop thrives best on lighter soils with good drainage. In India. it is grown from sea level up to an altitude of 2,000 m largely as a dryland crop. Although fairly drought- resistant, the crop is susceptible to waterlogging and frost.

Seeding technique. Row spacing of 30 cm is considered optimum,although 45 cm row spacing is adopted in case of spreading types. By and large, a spacing of 25-30 cm between rows depending on the canopy development of the variety and date of sowing is adequate. The plant-to-plant distance should be maintained at 5 cm under irrigated and assured rainfall conditions and 10-15cm under rainfed conditions. A seed rate of 15-20 kg/ha depending on the seed size of the variety is optimum. For very bold-seeded types, a seed rate as high as 30 kg/ha may be required.

Application of fertilizers. The response to phosporous is highest on red and laterite soils. Application of P₂O₅ @ 30-40 kg/ha along with a starter dose of 10-15 kg nitrogen is adequate. Phosporous application has always significant effect in increasing the yields. Seeds should bre treated with an efficient Rhizobium culture for obtaining higher yields. Rhizobial inoculation may reduce the nitrogen requirement of the crop.

Weed control. The highest crop yield was obtained when weeds were removed 35 days after sowing. Any further delay in weed removal results in a corresponding decrease in yield. A maximum of 2 hand-weedings in the initial stages of crop growth up to 30-35 days, is adequate to take care of the weed problem. However, whenever labour is in short supply or the rainfall pattern does not allow early hand-weeding, herbicides need to be used. Pre-emergence application of Lasso or Tok E-25 @ 2kg ai/ha in 1,000 litres of water ensures complete weed control.

Irrigation. Greengram does not require any irrigation if the monsoon rainfall is well distributed. However, in case of drought conditions prevailing during the growth stages due to failure of rainfall for longer spells, the crop gets benefited by irrigation. One irrigation under drought situation at flowering stage particularly in sandy loam areas is recommended.

2.Summer greengram
Soil and tillage Summer greengram can be grown after harvesting of wheat crop without any preparatory tillage. It could be seeded by opening a small furrow in between the rows of wheat stubble and irrigated immediately thereafter. These operations would require minimum tillage as well as time and operational costs. However, in order to obtain a good crop, a very heavy pre-sowing irrigation (double palewa) may be given and the field ploughed twice with harrow to give a good tilth.

Seeding technique. A distance of 25 cm between rows and 5 cm between plants is optimum. The highest yield of summer mungbean can be achieved when seed rate is about 25 kg/ha or even more.

Applicaton of fertilizers. A starter dose of 10 kg of nitrogen/ha along with 40 kg P₂O₅/ha is optimum for summer greengram. In a 3-crop sequence of maize-wheat-summer greengram, the greengram need not be given any nitrogenous or phosphatic fertilizer, if the previous 2 cereal crops had received the recommended doses of nitrogen and phosporous. The fertilizers may be drilled through pora in furrows drawn 25-30 cm apart. Fertilizers may be drilled along with the seed or placed 5-6 cm below the seed through pora It is also necessary to treat the seed with an efficient Rhizobium culture.

Weed control. Two hand-weedings, the first 25 days after sowing and the second 45 days after sowing, are adequate to check weed infestation. Subsequently, greengram grows rapidly and the weeds are smothered. Alternatively, pre-emergence weedicides, like Tok E-25 or Lasso 1 litre/1,000 litres of water may be sprayed in a hectare, just after sowing. However, weedicides control only broad-leaved weeds whereas motha (Cyperus rotundus) is a major problem in the summer season. Therefore, one handweeding, preferably before the first irrigation will take care of this problem.

Irrigation. The number of irrigations and their time of application vary according to seasonal conditions. At least 3 irrigations, the first at preflowering stage (20-25 days), the second at flowering (25-40 days) and the third at grain-filling stage, are necessary. Pre-sowing irrigation is a must to ensure adequate soil moisture for germination. The availability of water is generally scarce in the canals during the summer months but there is a great scope of growing summer mungbean around tubewells. There are about 6.14, 1.24,0.11 and 1.86 tubewells in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and Haryana respectively to support summer cultivation of greengram.

Insect pests
Most insect pests are common to the Vigna group of pulse crops. For descriptions on red hairy-caterpillar, Bihar hairy-caterpillar, jassids and galerucid beetle please see under blackgram.

1.Pod-borer. The insect defoliates the plant and causes considerable damage.The crop is damaged at the time of pod formation. The caterpillar not only feeds on the tender leaves but also bores the green pods and feeds on the developing grains. Spraying with 0.03% Endosulfan emulsion, Malathion or Carbaryl 0.05% is effective in controlling the pest. The insecticide is to be applied at the fruiting stage when the crop is most vulnerable to the attack. A single timely application of the insectiside is sufficient, otherwise it may repeated at 10 days interval. Deep ploughing should be done immediately after the harvest to expose the pupae to the hot sun. Collection of caterpillars mechanically and then destroying them is also a good preventive measure.

2.Aphids and white-fly. These are important sucking pests and also act as vectors for several viruse infecting legumes, paricularly cowpea-mosiac. Spraying with Dimethoate (0.03%), Methyl Demeton (0.03%), Malathion (0.06%) or Endosulfan (0.07%) minimizes the incidence of these pests.

Diseases.
1.Cercospoara leaf-spot. For symptoms and control measures, please see under blackgram. Variety 'ML 162' (Ludhania) and lines '364-68-1', '155-1','6006-1' and '546-68-1' from Kanpur are reported to be tolerant to the disease. Two sprays of Bavistin (500 g/ha) 30 and 40 days after sowing are effective in disease control.

2.Anthracose [Colletotrichum dematium (Pers. ex Fr. )Grove]. This disease attacks all the tender parts of the plant at any stage of growth but the damage to leaves and pods is serious. The most characteristic symptoms are circular, black sunken spots with dark centres and bright red or orange margins on the leaves and pods. When the infection is severe, the affected parts wither off. Seedlings get blighted due to infection soon after germination. The fungus survives on the seed and the plant debris. Seed treatment with Captan or Thiram (2-3 g/kg) helps in eliminating the seed-borne inoculum. Spraying the crop with Thiram or Zineb (2 g/litre) or any copper compound. (2-3 g/litre) at fortnightly intervals considerably reduces the infection.

3.Rust [Uromyces appendiculatus (Pers.)Unger]. This disease is very common and is exhibited as circular, reddish-brown pustules. The pustules are abundant on the underside of leaves, less abundant on pods and on stems. When leaves are seriously infected, they shrink and fall off. Dusting with sulphur or spraying with Zineb (2.0%) checks the disease to a great extent.

4.Dry root-rot [Rhizocontia bataticola (Taub.)Butler]. The initial symptom is yellowing of leaves. The plants may wilt within a week. When the stem is examined closely, dark, sunken lesions are seen on the bark at the ground level. When plants are pulled out and examined the basal stem and main roots show dry-rot symptoms. In advanced stages, dark sclerotial bodies may be seen on the affected roots and basal portions of stem. As the pathogen is soil-borne, it is difficult to control the disease. Field sanitation including cutting soil with Bordeaux Mixture or other fungicides will help in reducing the inoculum.

5.Bacterial leaf-spot. This affects greengram and blackgram mainly in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Round or irregular water-soaked spots appear which eventually turn brown. In severe spotting, leaves turn yellow and fall of prematurely. Stems and pods also get infected. The bacterium is seed-borne. It is more severe in warm and wet weather conditions during the monsoon months. Use of resistant varieties is the best way to control this disease. 'Jalgaon 781', 'ML 9' and 'ML 10' are reported to be fairly resistant. Seed treatment with Captan gives a good control.

6.Yellow-mosiac virus. For symptoms please see under blackgram disease is transmitted by the white-fly. The control of vector is a must for preventing disease spread. For controlling the vector the crops may be sprayed with Endosulfan (0.07%) or Malathion (0.03%) or Methyl Demeton (0.03%) + orchard oil (2%) or Endosulfan (0.07%) + orchard oil (2%) 4 times during the seaosn. The spraying should be done 20 days after sowing and the remaining 3 sprays at an interval of 10 days. Some mungbean varieties, such as 'L 24', 'Hy 4-3A', 'Hy 12-4', ML 62','ML 63" and 'ML 131', posses a high degree of reisistance to this disease.