Nutritional Security and Improvement of Yield through Mechanized Cultivation of Mungbean

Bangladesh is the most densely populated country of the world. Its present population is about 159 million which is increasing annually at the rate of about 1.42 percent. By the year 2030, the population will be increased to about 200 million. On the other hand, the cultivable land is decreasing by 1% every year [3]. Mungbean contains different nutrient, vitamins and mineral like as Prortein 24.5 gram, Carbohydrate 59.9 gram, Oil 1.2 gram, Minerals 3.5 gram, Iron 8.5 miligram, Calcium 75 miligram, Carotene 49 microgram, Vitamin B 0.72 miligram, Vitamin B 0.15 miligram, Energy 348 Kcal and Fibre 0.8 1 2 gram per 100 gram edible of Mungbean [12] and [6]. It also contains amino acid lysine, which is generally deficit in food grains [5]. Being leguminous, this crop maintains soil fertility by fixing the atmospheric nitrogen [10]; [15] and [16]. 

To meet up the pulses demand of increasing population, Mungbean production in the Rabi season needs to be increased, by increasing the present low yield (980 kg/ha), [2]. Among the factors responsible for the low yield of the Mungbean, nonmechanized cultivation is the important ones. Mechanized cultivation of pulse can reduce production cost and increase yield. Land preparation and sowing are expensive and time-consuming operations for Mungbean cultivation. Proper placement and distribution of seed and fertilizers into the soil is necessary for good germination and plant establishment for better yield [7]. Farmers face trouble completing agricultural operations due to labour shortage, especially during the planting season, during harvesting and threshing periods. Small agricultural machinery such as the power tiller, power tiller operated seeder and power tiller operated bed planter are alternative ways to manage labor shortage and keep crop production at a high and economic level. 

The seeder creates 4-6 cm wide planting strip and produce good seed soil contact which facilities better plant stand. Depth of seed placement can be controlled easily. Seed placement vary 5-7 cm below the soil surface depending the moisture availability in the soil. The rotating strip blades can operate through moderate crop residues field without plugging. Strip tillage planting system in which tilling the planting strips and seeding can be accomplished simultaneously thereby reducing the number of field operations required. In this system land is remain untilled between the two seeding lines. The farmers are becoming more dependent on mechanical power. Now a day, power tillers are available all over the country. 

Two wheel tractor operated seeder has 48 numbers of rotating blades for shallow tilling the soil. The seeding part of the seeder is attached with power tiller replacing the rotavator part of the power tiller. In strip tillage system, rotating tynes were reduced to 24 numbers. Only 4 numbers of tynes remain in the gang at front position of seed furrow opener for tilling and creating a strip in the soil. Between the two seeding lines soil remain untilled. The tynes of the seeder are rotated at the speed of 450 rpm. 

Therefore, to achieve the goal of increased Mungbean production in Bangladesh, the present study was undertaken with the objectives to find out proper tillage and seeding method of Mungbean cultivation.