Agro-Morphological Characterization of Three Cultivated Legumes: Two Varieties of Soybean (Glycine max L.) and One Variety of Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.)

To contribute to the restoration of tropical soils fertility, the agro-morphological and yield characteristics of three cultivated legumes [two beige seeded varieties of soybean (Glycine max L.): one from  Côte d’Ivoire (BVCI) and the other, from Benin (BVB) and a green  seeded mungbean variety (Vigna radiata L)  from Côte d'Ivoire (MVCI)] were studied.  The legumes seeds were sown and the resulting plants were monitored until harvest. The data relating to the plants phenological, morphological and yield parameters were statistically processed through one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA 1).  The results of phenological observations indicated that the mungbean (MVCI) was earlier than both soybean varieties (BVCI followed by BVB). Morphologically, plants of the late soybean varieties (BVCI and BVB) were higher, more branched with a large wingspan, and produced more panicles than the early variety of mungbean (MVCI). In addition, mungbean variety (MVCI) produced long tapered pods containing small seeds while the soybean varieties produced shorter but wider pods containing large seeds.  In terms of yied, both late soybean varieties (BVCI and BVB) produced large dry biomass, more pods with higher seed yield, dry weight and 100 seed weight than the early variety of mungbean (MVCI). Significance: The precocious nature of mungbean makes it an important plant for the fight against climate change, especially against drought. Due to their good branching and significant plant spread, both late varieties of soybean (BVCI and BVB) have high potential of being selected for soil protection and weed control, as well as for food production because of their high pod yield, seed and dry biomass.