BIONATURE

Greengram (Vigna radiata L.), an important short-duration pulse crop cultivated widely across tropical and subtropical regions, plays a significant role in sustainable agriculture due to its nitrogen-fixing ability and high nutritional value. However, its productivity remains low and inconsistent, largely due to variety-environment interactions and region-specific variability in soil and climate conditions. This review synthesizes research findings from India and abroad to evaluate the performance of diverse greengram varieties in terms of growth, yield attributes, nutrient uptake and economic returns. Studies reveal substantial varietal variability in plant height, leaf area index, dry matter accumulation, nodulation, branching and flowering behaviour. Yield-contributing characters such as number of pods plant^-1, seeds pod^-1, pod length, pod weight and thousand-seed weight also varied significantly among varieties. Differences in nutrient uptake (N, P, K) and profitability further highlight the importance of selecting suitable varieties for specific agro-ecological zones. The review underscores the need for regionally adapted, nutrient-efficient and high-yielding varieties to enhance greengram productivity and support sustainable pulse production.