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Mung beans (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) are only inoculated in some production systems, but there is a current lack of knowledge on the best inoculants to use for effective nitrogen fixation (nodulation) and plant yields. The objectives of the present study were to determine if the dual inoculation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (F) and Bradyrhizobium (R) provides greater (a) mung bean yield and quality (b) nitrogen fixation for mung bean and residual soil nitrogen for the following crop, and (c) determine if these effects are consistent across various environments. Field trials were conducted in Blacksburg, VA (sandy clay loam), and Eastern Shore, VA (sandy loam), over the summers of 2020 and 2021. There were 5 treatments replicated 5 times for each variety at each site; R, F, R + F, high nitrogen (N) (100 kg ha−1), and a control, for a total of 25 plots per site. Mung beans grown in Blacksburg in 2020 and 2021 averaged 53.8% more seeds per pod than mung beans grown at the Eastern Shore. Overall yield components (seeds per pod, pods per plant) are heavily influenced by soil type. Dual inoculation significantly increased grain yield (+33%) compared to a synthetic N fertilizer application, but did not significantly increase grain yield compared to the control (+22%). Dual inoculation may increase the grain yields of mung beans compared to synthetic fertilizer regime, but does not show evidence of improving N fixation. Published version

Located within the Sahel region, Senegal faces several agricultural production challenges. Limited rainfall, poor soil fertility, and insufficient agronomic inputs all contribute to low pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] yields. This study was initiated to assess the potential for increasing millet yields through intercropping (living cover) and mulching (desiccated cover) practices. During the 2013 and 2014 growing seasons, pearl millet was intercropped with cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.], mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek], or grown under mulch (neem [Azadirachta indica] leaves applied at 2 t ha–1). Field trials were conducted at two sites within Senegal’s central millet– peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) basin, in Bambey (14°41¢382 N, 16°28¢122 W) and iés (14°45¢452 N, 16°53¢142 W). Soil moisture and plant N (based on the normalized difference vegetation index [NDVI]) were measured in addition to yield. When inter- cropped with a legume, millet grain yields increased up to 55% compared to millet alone. The combined grain yields under inter-cropping (millet + legume) were always higher than yields of millet alone, up to 67% in Bambey. Mulching increased soil moisture up to 14%, with yield increases of up to 70% over millet with no mulch. Plant N increased in both intercropped and mulched millet, with NDVI increases up to 21% with mulch and 16% when grown with a legume (prior to flowering). These yield increases were achieved using resources that are available and affordable to small-scale producers in the region (seeds and mulch), and did not require the addition of fertilizer input. Published version

Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] is a short-duration and relatively drought-tolerant crop grown predominantly in the tropics. This grain legume can improve soil fertility through biological nitrogen (N) fixation. To assess the effects of Bradyrhizobium (group I) inoculation on yield and yield attributes of mungbean, a greenhouse study was conducted during Fall 2016 with two mungbean cultivars (‘Berken’ and ‘OK2000’), two inoculum treatments (inoculated and uninoculated), and two soil textures (loamy sand and silt loam). Pots were laid out in a completely randomized design and treatment combinations were replicated seven times. The main effects of cultivar and soil texture significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected mungbean seed weight and plant residue mass. Seed yield (13%), plant residue (22%), and protein content (6%) of OK2000 were significantly higher than Berken cultivar. A 31% seed yield and 40% plant residue increase were recorded on silt loam soil compared to loamy sand soil. Significant increase in plant height (18%) and number of pods per plant (21%) were also recorded when mungbean plants were grown on silt loam compared to loamy sand soil. Bradyrhizobium inoculation significantly increased the number of pods per plant, the number of seeds per plant, and seed yield. [Cultivar × inoculation] and [cultivar × soil texture] interactions had significant (P ≤ 0.05) effects on number of seeds per pods and plant height, respectively. Understanding the agronomic practices and soil physical properties that may limit mungbean production could help in optimizing its establishment and growth in non-traditional growing areas.