Mung bean yield stability exists across seeding rates

Abstract

Mung bean [ Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] is gaining attention as a sustainable, high‐protein legume with the potential to diversify cropping systems in temperate regions such as Iowa. However, optimal agronomic management practices, including seeding rate, remain largely unexplored in this region. This study evaluated the effects of seeding rate on the growth, grain yield, and yield components of three mung bean genotypes (ISU‐A, ISU‐B, and OK2000) in Boone and Kanawha, IA, over two growing seasons, 2023 and 2024. A randomized complete block design was used in a 3 × 4 factorial arrangement, with three genotypes and four seeding rates (100,000, 150,000, 200,000, and 250,000 seeds ac ⁻¹ ), in 2 site‐years. Results indicated that increasing seeding rates reduced the number of pods per plant and individual seed weight due to increased interplant competition. Grain yield remained stable across seeding rates, indicating compensatory effects between per‐plant productivity and plant density. Genotype effects were site‐year dependent. In Boone, genotypes differed in plant height and yield components but not in grain yield, whereas in Kanawha, OK2000 had greater grain yield and seed set traits than ISU‐A and ISU‐B. Although some yield components showed genotype × seeding rate interactions, grain yield remained stable across seeding rates in both site‐years.