Monggo Beans: An Alternate Source of Protein
By: Chesca de Larrazabal
Description and Rationale
In the Philippines, protein deficiency is an ever-present concern, common especially amongst those in poverty. Protein is needed in the body for growth and repair of muscle, bones, skin, ligaments, and other tissues and organs. A deficiency could lead to mental retardation and stunted growth in children. Because of malnutrition, about 4 million children, 3 million adolescents, and 5 million adults in the Philippines are underweight. Protein-energy malnutrition can be contributed as one of the main causes of this. Reports indicate that there is enough food in the Philippines to feed the whole country, yet still many Filipinos suffer from malnutrition from insufficient food, vitamin, and mineral intake.
A deficiency in folate has been observed in Filipinos as well, which can lead to birth defects in a child’s brain and spinal chord. A deficiency in vitamin C may also lead to diseases such as scurvy, wherein the patient experiences sore gums and bleeding from mucous membranes. Iron deficiency anemia is also found to affect 56.6% of infants.
Mung beans, or mongo beans as they are called in the Philippines, are seeds which come from the plant Vigna radiata. Mongo beans are tropical crops which require a temperature of about 30-35°C to grow, which is why the Philippines is an ideal location for its cultivation.
Inexpensive to buy and easy to sprout, could the cultivation of mongo beans help vitamin, mineral and protein deficient people receive more of their required daily intake? Would the vitamin and mineral content from a serving of mongo beans be adequate enough to act as a sufficient alternative to more expensive food sources? Would it be possible for people to grow their own Vigna radiata plants, or must they rely on having to buy the mongo beans separately? Would poor people have access to the right materials they’d need to cultivate their own beans?
The purpose of this project would be to research on the health benefits of mongo beans and sprouts, eventually coming up with recipes to accompany the rest of my findings. I will research on methods of growing the actual plant, Vigna radiata, as well as the cultivation of its seeds and the different ways its seeds can be sprouted. It is hoped that poor people would be able to find a cheap and sufficient alternative source of nutrients, with the raised awareness that this project aims to achieve.
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Biology
Common Names and Synonyms
Mung beans, also known as golden grams, green grams, green soy, mash bean, munggo or monggo as it is known in the Philippines, are seeds of the Vigna radiata plant. The word mung is derived from the Hindi word moong.
Classification
Kingdom: Plantae (plants)
Division: Magnoliophyta (flowering plants)
Class: Magnoliopsida (dicotyledons – 2 embryonic leaves)
Order: Fabales (rosid group of dicotyledon)
Family: Fabaceae/Leguminosae (legume/pea/bean/pulse family)
Genus: Vigna (vines/erect herbs)
Species: Vigna radiata (mung beans)
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Morphology and Physical Description
The Vigna radiata is an erect, annual (has a lifespan of one year) legume which grows to a height of about 1 meter as a mature plant. It branches randomly and does not carry too much foliage. It has trifoliate leaves with a green color and coarse texture on long petioles. The leaves, stems, and pods are covered in light fuzz, more evidently seen during its younger phases. The nodes of stems and branches are stipuled. The plant produces yellow flowers within 7 weeks after planting, and reaches full maturity within 14 weeks. Inflorescence (clustering of flowers) takes place in groups of 5 to 20 flowers. Brownish pods of about 3 to 4 inches in length grow from the top of its stem, which are dried before harvested. There are about 30 to 40 pods found in each plant, and each pod contains about 10 to15 seeds.
Inside these pods is where the mung beans are found. These seeds are black in color, but can be green, yellow, or reddish once its skin is removed. They are a little over half a centimeter in length, but become about 1 ½ inches when fully sprouted.
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Getting Food
CULTIVATION PRACTICES
Climate:
Mung beans are tropical crops grown in warm temperatures of about 30° to 35° Celsius and require a growing season of 90 to 120 days to mature. A sufficient amount of rainfall (32 inches minimum) is essential all throughout the season for a good crop yield. It is necessary to begin planting on time (May 15 and June 6) since late plantings result in flowering and the pods filling up during the hottest and driest time of summer. As an outcome, disease related problems and a reduced yield can occur due to prematurity. The amount of exposure to sunlight also affects how fast flowering occurs; shorter days accelerate the process while longer days prolong it.
Soil:
Mung beans grow best on fine, well drained, loamy soils. A pH of 6.0 to 6.9 is required. On more alkaline soil, the plant may begin to show signs of iron chlorosis and micronutrient deficiencies. If the soil has too low of a pH, lime can be incorporated into the soil to raise acidity levels. Mung beans also have a low salinity toleration. This plant requires a certain amount of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur content to ensure proper growth, so fertilizers should be used to supplement the soil if it’s shown to lack these elements. Before planting, the soil should be tilled for weeds and have a firm final seedbed without any lumps or masses of soil on its surface.
Seed Preparation/Germination:
Mung seeds are generally not treated with pesticides or fungicides in the event that traces of these chemicals may be eaten. Nitrogen fixing bacteria may be introduced however, a compound which can aid growth. This addition should be distributed evenly around the field and should be specific to mung beans. Because these seeds are quite small, careful handling is needed to make certain there minimal damage to the seed.
Seeding:
Seeds should be planted about 1 ½ inches deep in a moist seedbed. If the surface layer is dry, it can be planted as deep as 3 inches instead. Mung bean seedlings are delicate and therefore can’t risk being seeding too deep. This would make it harder for the seedling to break through the top soil layer.
The recommended planting rates are:
- 30 inch rows = 9 seeds per foot
- 20 inch rows = 6 seeds per foot
- 6 – 10 inch rows = 2 – 3 seeds per foot
With these distributions, about 150,000–200,000 plants per acre can be grown. This could yield a range of 300 to 2000 pounds per acre. Row spacings of 30 inches are recommended for first time plantings in case of weed outbreaks. Rows can than be spaced closer together to produce higher yields.
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Reproduction
Vigna radiata reproduces by self-pollination. This is a process wherein fertilization occurs by the transfer of pollen from the anthers (male reproductive part) to the stigma (female reproductive part) of the same flower, or a different flower on the same plant. Before the flower opens, the anthers are already pushed up against the stigma, causing automatic pollination.
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Environmental Factors
Weeds:
Rotary hoeing and field cultivation are both effective methods in removing weeds during the plants’ earlier phase. Later on, weeds become less of a threat once the plants begin to flower. It is important not to cultivate the field when it is wet, otherwise bacteria and fungal diseases can spread. Chemical treatments are not as encouraged as mechanical methods of weed removal since mung beans are ingested by humans.
Disease:
Mung beans are vulnerable to several pathogens such as white mold, Phytophthora, mildew, bacterial rots, or Rhizoctonia, which attack other types of legumes as well. To reduce the chances of acquiring these diseases, proper rotation, tillage practices, and water management should be observed.
Insects:
Weevils may get into the stored seed supply. Seeds in early germination could be attacked by seed corn maggot and wireworms, lowering its chances of survival. There may also be grasshopper or caterpillar infestations which would strip and destroy the plants’ leaves.
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Origin and Distribution
Mung beans originated from India, and were believed to have spread to the rest of the world through cultural diffusion, with the help of trade in the Silk Road. Through the Silk Road, the crop was brought into China and Taiwan, and soon to the rest of South East Asia. Today, mung beans are mainly cultivated in areas with a tropical climate, such as in India, Philippines, Indonesia, China, Burma, and Bangladesh, but may also be grown in hot and dry regions of South Europe, Southern USA and Australia.
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Importance to People
Mung beans serve as a cheap yet rich source of nutrients. The sprouts have a high protein content of about 21 to 28%, and contain a sufficient amount of folate, copper, phosphorus, manganese, vitamin C, vitamin K, iron, zinc, riboflavin and dietary fiber. They are easily digested and can therefore be used as an alternative for deficiencies in protein and other nutrients, especially in tropical areas where they are cultivated. Some nutritional values can be seen below:
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Boiled mung beans
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
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Energy 110 kcal 440 kJ
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Carbohydrates
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19.15 g
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- Sugars 2.00 g
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- Dietary fiber 7.6 g
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Fat
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0.38 g
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Protein
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7.02 g
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Vitamin C 1.0 mg
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2%
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Calcium 27 mg
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3%
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Magnesium 0.298 mg
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0%
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Phosphorus 99 mg
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14%
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Potassium 266 mg
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6%
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Sodium 2 mg
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0%
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Mung beans, mature seeds, raw
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
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Energy 350 kcal 1450 kJ
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Carbohydrates
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62.62 g
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- Sugars 6.60 g
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- Dietary fiber 16.3 g
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Fat
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1.15 g
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Protein
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23.86 g
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Vitamin C 4.8 mg
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8%
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Calcium 132 mg
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13%
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Magnesium 189 mg
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51%
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Phosphorus 367 mg
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52%
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Potassium 1246 mg
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27%
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Sodium 15 mg
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1%
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In the Philippines, about 4 million children, 3 million adolescents, and 5 million adults are underweight. This can be largely accounted for the lack of protein in their diets. Also, an estimated 28 million Filipinos are unable to buy food which meets their required nutritional needs. Being both cheap and rich in protein, growing ones own mung bean sprouts could hopefully help reduce these statistics and improve the health of many Filipinos. With mung beans, different types of salads, sprouts, soups, noodles, and desserts can be made.
As for agricultural purposes, mung beans may also be used as green manure help fertilize the soil it’s grown on. Being a legume, mung beans help contribute to nitrogen fixation through a symbiotic bacteria called rhizobia, which produces nitrogen compounds which helps the plant grow. After the plant dies, the nitrogen then becomes obtainable by other plants as well as enriches the soil. This could help cut down fertilizer costs for farmers growing the crop.
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Survivability and Endangered Status
Mung beans are not at high risk of depletion, considering how much yield a good planting can produce. About 2.66 million hectares of mung bean are cultivated in South East Asia, with an average yield being 0.3 to 0.7 tons per hectare. The Philippines’ warm temperature and humidity levels are perfectly suited for the growth requirements of mung beans, allowing it to be cultivated anywhere in the country. Because of its short growth period, it’s used often for crop rotations for cereal crops. It may be susceptible to certain diseases and pests, but with proper management this shouldn’t be too much of a threat either.
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Potential Solutions
Are mung beans only good for eating purposes? Are there other uses in which mung beans may be helpful as well? According to research, mung beans indeed provide a sufficient amount of certain vitamins and nutrients. But how else may they be beneficial? Below, I describe 3 possibilities of mung bean uses, 2 of which do not relate to human consumption. With these extra possibilities, it is hoped that those who cultivate mung beans would be able to utilize every aspect of the crop.
Possibility 1 - GREEN MANURE/ORGANIC FERTILIZER
Legumes are known to have nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacteria called rhizobia found inside their root nodules. This bacteria produces nitrogen compounds which helps enrich the soil, which is why Vigna radiata can be ploughed back into fields as “green manure”, a crop grown to provide extra nutrients and organic matter to soil. Even after harvesting the seeds of the Vigna radiata, the plant can be reused as a way of fertilizing the soil for the next cycle of crops.
Advantages:
- Green manure improves water retention and aeration capabilities of soil through the incorporation of organic matter. It would also help reduce the compaction, crusting, and erosion of soil, which would improve soil properties and ensure better plant growth.
- Organic matter releases nutrients slowly, which prevents it from being leached away and contaminating ground water.
- Reintroducing the Vigna radiata plant into the soil can act as an alternative to chemical forms of fertilizers. Chemical fertilizers are more expensive than organic fertilizers, and may increase soil acidity and salinity levels. Harmful elements such as arsenic, cadmium, and uranium can also accumulate in fields which have been treated with chemical fertilizers if not maintained and cleaned properly. Green manure is a more natural and organic method of fertilizing, and can be used resourcefully by farmers who can’t afford more expensive types of fertilizer.
Disadvantages:
- It would take a while to grow a yield of Vigna radiata plants, so farmers can’t solely rely on this plant as fertilizer, since it won’t be as readily available as store bought fertilizers.
- While the slow release of nutrients has its benefits, this is also a disadvantage considering that soil enrichment wouldn’t take place as quickly.
- Organic fertilizers have less nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium content (also known as an N-P-K ratio), which are three essential elements for healthy plant growth. Chemical fertilizers yield an N-P-K ratio of 20 to 60% while organic fertilizers have a maximum of about 14%.
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Possibility 2 - FODDER
Fodder is the type of food given to domesticated livestock such as cattle, goats, horses, or pigs. Fodder can include variants such as hay, straw, silage, as well as legumes. Mung beans which are cracked, or not up to standard sprouting qualities can be fed to livestock as a way to utilize leftover beans. Research by the Oklahoma State University regarding mung bean as fodder has been conducted on swine and calves, yielding successful results.
Advantages:
- Mung beans have a high protein content of 21 to 28% by weight, which would not only be beneficial to humans but to animals as well to ensure healthy tissue growth.
- Feeding leftover beans to animals is a resourceful way to use a product which would otherwise be disposed of. This makes full use of a mung bean, ensuring nothing is wasted.
Disadvantages:
- Mung beans cost twice as much as soybeans, which is the more conventional legume used as fodder. Therefore, it wouldn’t be a good idea to use mung bean as a primary source of fodder. Scraps and unusable seeds should be the only consideration when using mung beans as animal feed.
- Farmers would require more mung beans than soy beans if it’s used as fodder, considering that 1.5 pounds of mung bean is equivalent to only 1 pound of soy beans.
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Possibility 3 - SPROUTING AND COOKING MUNG BEANS
Sprouting mung beans is a very easy and simple procedure. I tested this out myself by sprouting my own beans in a plastic jar container using a method I found online. After 5 days the sprouts were full grown and were ready to be cooked.
With the aid of my helper, I used these sprouts in a stir fry recipe, and fed them to my family for dinner. The recipe received positive comments from my family, saying how it tasted just like store bought sprouts.
With this knowledge, I created a brochure with information on how to sprout your own beans, along with recipe cards, nutritional values and facts about mung beans. I created an English and Tagalog version, and walked around my village handing them out to people, educating them about the benefits of eating mung beans as well. I found out that many households already use mung beans regularly in their diet, but they were still interested to learn about its nutrition and importance. A lot of kids were thrilled with the craftiness of making their own sprouting mechanism as well.
Interview with the people I gave brochures to.
* Togue is Tagalog for bean sprouts
Me: Do you already eat togue?
· 10/10 people said yes.
Me: How many times in a month do you eat it?
· 1/10 said twice a week.
· 5/10 said once a week.
· 4/10 said around once every other week.
Me: Where do you get your supply of togue?
· 10/10 said at the palengke (marketplace)
Me: What are your reasons for eating togue?
· 3/10 said it was a family favorite.
· 3/10 said it was because it’s healthy.
· 4/10 said it was because it’s cheap.
Me: Are you aware of the health benefits of togue?
· All had an idea that it was healthy, but none knew any particulars.
Me: Did you know that sprouting your own togue costs less, but yields more sprouts than what you buy in the market? Would you then consider sprouting your own monggo beans?
· 2/10 said it’s too time consuming, and would rather buy it.
· 3/10 were indifferent.
· 5/10 said it sounded like a project they’d try.
Advantages:
- The few materials required to sprout the beans are very cheap and readily available. It also takes less than a week for mung beans to sprout.
- There is no need for sunlight or soil when sprouting, which means it has no seasonal limitations and can be done all year around.
- No fertilizer is required to sprout beans. The only input needed is water, and even then only a small overall amount is used.
- It is much cheaper to sprout your own beans than to buy them. The 18 pesos worth of seeds I bought sprouted 746 grams of sprouts, while the sprouts I found in the supermarket, which cost about the same price of 17.50 pesos, weighed in at 436 grams. That’s a difference of 310 grams for the same price. A profit can be made by poor farmers if they sprouted their own seeds.
Disadvantages:
- Home grown sprouts don’t come out as large as commercially grown ones, probably due to the lack of advanced sprouting methods. This could make it harder for farmers to compete with commercial crops.
2. Commercial sprouts also have a more marketable appeal than home grown ones, with claims such as using mineral water or organic means for sprouting. This would also increase competition for poor farmers.
POSSIBLE FUTURE DIRECTIONS
I could find a faster and more efficient way of making my brochures, and distribute them in areas where they’d be of more use, such as squatter areas. I also talked to my grandfather, an agriculturist who has a few manuals published, about where I could take this project next. The main focus of his manuals is to help struggling communities self sustain themselves by using simple methods of growing their own crops, which they could then either eat or sell for a profit. I asked if he had a section about mung beans yet and he said there wasn’t, so I asked if it was a possibility my project could somehow be included in a manual. He told me that if properly polished and edited, he’d consider creating a section for mung beans. With his influence, the information on my project could possibly reach more people in need.
BIBLICAL RATIONALE
II Corinthians 9:10
“For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.”
I am hoping to teach people through this project just how much God provides for them, by showing them how much good can come out of a little seed. It’s a blessing that there is a food source such as mung beans which are quick and cheap to grow, yet are still nutritional. The different ways mung beans can be used shows us how much God cares for our needs in more ways than one.
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Bibliography
“Bean – Dried, Mung.” Cornucopia Seeds. 18 January 2007. 2 May 2009. <http://cornucopiaseeds.com.au/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=10&zenid=64145e669a417763491b874415736a1d>.
“Growing Mung Bean.” Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Institute. 2 May 2009. <http://www.jeffersoninstitute.org/pubs/mungbean.shtml>.
“Mung Bean.” Bureau of Agricultural Research, Philippines. 2 May 2009.
<http://www.bar.gov.ph/agfishtech/crops/mungbean.asp>.
“Mung bean.” Grain Legumes Portal. 12 March 2007. 2 May 2009. <http://www.grainlegumes.com/aep/crops_species/all_species_index/mung_bean>.
“Mung beans, mature seeds, sprouted, raw.” Nutrition Data. 2 May 2009. <http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2333/2>
“Mung Bean.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 8 May 2009. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 2 May 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mung_beans>.
Oplinger, E.S. “Mungbean.” NewCROP. 21 November 1997. 2 May 2009. <http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/afcm/mungbean.html>.
Strauss, Jason. “How to Make Sprouts.” JasonUnbound. 3 February 2002. 2 May 2009. <http://www.jasonunbound.com/sprouts.html>.
Village residents. Personal interview. 8 May 2009.
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