TITLE:
Beans with Benefits—The Role of Mungbean (Vigna radiate) in a Changing Environment
AUTHORS:
Lisa Pataczek, Zahir Ahmad Zahir, Maqshoof Ahmad, Saima Rani, Ramakrishnan Nair, Roland Schafleitner, Georg Cadisch, Thomas Hilger
KEYWORDS:
Adaption Strategies, PGPR, Food Security, Residual Effects, Conservation Agriculture
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.9 No.7,
June
28,
2018
ABSTRACT: Dryland areas are experiencing low agricultural
yields due to severe water shortages and salinity, leading to food scarcity.
Mungbean (Vigna radiate) is gaining attention
as a short-season crop that can tolerate dryland conditions, and fix
atmospheric nitrogen, decreasing soil nutrient depletion. It is a source of
high-quality protein for human consumption and can serve as a multipurpose crop,
if harvest residues are used as fodder or green manure. However, little of this
legume’s potential has been explored. This review aims to underline the
importance of mungbean as an agricultural crop by reviewing relevant literature on the potential contribution
of mungbean to food security and a balanced diet as well as the effect of
mungbean cultivation on farm income and gender equality. The challenges of
climate change in plant production are discussed, and how progress in mungbean
breeding and the application of improved cultivation techniques, such as
regulated deficit irrigation, conservation agriculture, and inoculation with
plant growth promoting rhizobacteria can overcome them.