Snake bean is a popular vegetable in Malaysia also known as long bean. It is a good source of nutrients like protein, vitamins A and C, folate, magnesium and manganese. The document discusses the taxonomy, cultivation practices and pests of snake bean. It details land preparation including plowing, harrowing and applying manure. Seeds are sown by hand in rows and supported by bamboo trellises. Snake beans require irrigation 1-2 times daily along with weeding and fertilizer application. Pests include nematodes, caterpillars and diseases like anthracnose. Snake beans are harvested 50 days after planting when pods are full and green.

2. Introduction
 Snake bean (Vigna unguiculata ) is one of popular
vegetables in Malaysia, also known as long bean or
kacang panjang
 Snake bean is consumed as ulam or fried or steamed
depending on cooking preference
 Snake bean is also known as vegetable cowpea,
asparagus bean, string bean, yardlong bean, snake pea,
snap pea, bodi, bora or sitao
 Its origin is possibly from the Middle West Africa or
Southern China
 widely grown in Southeast Asia, South China, Bangladesh,
Taipei and West Africa for immature pods

3. Area grown with snake bean

4. Nutrition
 They are a good source of protein, vitamin A,
thiamin, riboflavin, iron, phosphorus, and
potassium, and a very good source for vitamin C,
folate, magnesium, and manganese.
 Nutritional value per 100 g
 Energy 196 kJ (47 kcal)
 Carbohydrates 8 g
 Dietary fibre 3.6 g
 Fat 0 g
 Protein 3 g (USDA Nutrient Database)

5. Taxonomy
Kingdom: Plantae : Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta : Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta : Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta : Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida : Dicotyledons
Subclass: Rosidae
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae : Pea family
Genus: Vigna Savi : cowpea
Species: Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.: cowpea
Subspecies:
Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. ssp. sesquipedalis (L.) Verdc.: yardlong bean
(Source : Wolfram|Alpha knowledgebase, 2011)

6. Land Preparation
 It begins 2 weeks before planting with ploughing
activity and drainage system
 Land should be well prepared by ploughed and
harrowed for good root growth and increase pH 5
to 7.
 The size of beds with 120cm x 300 cm x 25 cm
 60 cm width of drain between seed beds for
drainage system
 The beds are layered with plastic silvershine
 Application of basic manuring with vermicompost
about 5kg each bed.

7. Land Preparation

8. Planting Technique
 Plastic silvershine is utilized for cover up the seed
beds before planting time
 could prevent the growth of weed and also for soil
moisture conservation
 The planting distance is about 30 cm X 30 cm
 The number of holes (population per bed)
= 4 x 10 = 40
 The seeds of snake bean are sown by hand on
the beds. Seeds are sown in rows 2-3 cm depth.

9. Planting Technique
 Two seeds are put in each hole after holes
 After 2 weeks, only one plant is let to grow per hole
 The selection is based on the plant health
 To have a population of 200, we need 5 beds
 The support system (trellis)used bamboo 2 meters
height connected each other with ropes and
strengthened each post at the end
 Ropes were installed on bamboo trellis, formed a
triangular shape
 This installation is provided to help the plants to climb
up and will bedone 3 weeks after snake bean planting.

10. Irrigation, weeding and fertilizing
 Snake bean plants need enough water to
growth well and produce high yields
 Irrigation is done 1-2 times per day except on
rainy days, with manual irrigation
 The land surface near snake bean plant should
be kept clean and free from weed
 Manual weeding is necessary after planting to
prevent the competition between snake bean
and weed.

11. Irrigation, weeding and fertilizing
 The amount of fertilizers given to the plants
Rotation Time Type of fertilizer Amount/seed bed
1
2
3
4
Before
2 weeks
4 weeks
6 weeks
Vermicompost
NPK 15:15:15
NPK 12:12:17:2
NPK 12:12:17:2
6 kg
150 g
450 g
600 g
(Source :Jabatan Pertanian Daerah Manjung,2011)

12. Pests and Diseases
 There are many pests and diseases that attack
long bean plants

13. Pests

14. Pests

15. Pests

16. Pests

17. Diseases

18. Diseases

19. Diseases

20. Diseases

21. Diseases

22. Diseases

24. Harvest
 Tuai pertama umur 50 hari selepas tanam
 Kriteria tuai: buah buah berpolong padat dan
berwarna hijau segar.
 Tanaman dapat berproduksi sampai umur ± 4
bulan, dengan interval setiap 5 hari sekali tuai
 Tiap ha dapat menghasilkan 5-6 tan.

25. Post Harvest
 Umur petik yang tepat
 Penyimpanan pada tempat yang tepat (sejuk
dan lembap)
 Buah / polong diikat
 Elakkan adanya luka pada buah
 Keranjang dilapisi kertas atau plastik sebagai
bekas untuk pengangkutan.
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