Assessment of Field Performance and Nutritional Quality of Mung Bean (Vigna radiata L.) for Food Diversification

Abstract

This research was carried out to evaluate the field performance of some mung bean accessions and their nutritional composition for inclusion in household diet. Twenty-one (21) accessions of mung bean were evaluated in the early and late season of 2022 at Ile-Ife, and in the early season at Kishi out-station of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. The experiment was established according to randomized complete block design with three replications. Agronomic and yield data were collected. Six of the mung bean accessions were randomly selected and analyzed for proximate, mineral composition and sensory properties along with two cowpea varieties as standard checks. MB-3, 6, 14 and 15 produced the highest seed yield across the locations (Ile-Ife early season, Ile-Ife late season, and Kishi early season). However, the performance was generally better in the early season than in the late season. The mung bean samples had slightly lower protein values than the standard checks. The mung bean samples had considerably higher mineral levels (p ≤ 0.05) than the control samples. Moin-moin (processed bean cake) made from some of the mung bean samples compared favorably with that from Ife brown cowpea (standard check). This work revealed good adaptability of the mung bean accession to southwest agro-ecology of Nigeria. It also revealed better nutritional quality of mung bean relative to cowpea for inclusion in household meals.

Keywords

• food diversity
• mineral composition
• mung bean
• sensory properties
• seed yield