Evaluating Mungbean ( <scp> <i>Vigna radiata</i> </scp> ) as an Alternative Specialty Crop for Virginia Tobacco Farmers

ABSTRACT Mungbean [ Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek] is an important grain legume crop in Asia. Mungbean is consumed in the United States by a niche market in Asian cuisines, primarily as bean sprouts. Currently, over two‐thirds of mungbeans consumed in the United States are imported, with nearly all domestic production concentrated in Oklahoma. This research explores the potential for Virginia tobacco farmers to grow mungbean as an alternative specialty crop amid declining tobacco demand. Two commercial cultivars, Berken and OK 2000, were planted in a split‐plot design across three locations in 2021 and 2022. Seeds were sown at early and late planting dates in June and July on farmers' fields and the research station of Virginia Tech in Southside, VA. Yield and agronomic traits were analyzed using one‐way ANOVA for individual locations and years. Because of variable rainfall patterns and differing management practices, no consistent effects of genotype or planting date were observed on yield, plant height, pods per plant, seeds per pod, or seed size. Yields ranged from 0.19 to 1.18 mt ha −1 , averaging 0.84 mt ha −1 in 2021 and 0.38 mt ha −1 in 2022. The highest recorded yield exceeded the global average, and the 2‐year mean surpassed India's national average, the world's largest mungbean producer. Our results highlight mungbean's potential in Virginia, though further investment in production systems and research is necessary to optimize its viability as a specialty crop.