Comparisonof physicochemical properties of selected locally available legume varieties (mung bean, cowpea and soybean)
Grain legumes are widely used as high protein contained crops that play a secondary role to cereal or root crops. In Sri Lanka various legume species are cultivated and often utilised in the whole grain boiled form. The objective of present study was to analyse and compare locally grown legumes varieties; Mung bean (MI 5, MI 6) Cowpea (Bombay, Waruni, Dhawal, MICP1, ANKCP1) and soybean (pb1, MISB1) for their morphological characteristics, proximate and mineral composition (Fe, Ca, Zn, K, P) Seed shape, seed coat texture and colour, seed size and 100 seed weight (g) were observed morphological characteristics in present study. Most of the characteristics of mung bean and soybean were similar within their species whereas characteristics of cowpea varieties largely differed. Values of 100 seed weight among the varieties of mung bean, soybean and cowpea were ranged from 5.8 6.5 g, 13.5 14.1 g and 13.4 17.2 g, respectively. The moisture content of all legume seeds ranged from 6.81% to 11.99% Results were shown that the protein content significantly higher in soybean (36.56 39.70% followed by mung bean (26.56 25.99% and cowpea (25.22 22.84% respectively. Range of total carbohydrate, crude fat, crude fibre and total ash contents of nine legume varieties varied from 15.29 62.97% 1.25 22.02% 3.04 7.93% and 3.43 6.35 respectively. potassium (K) phosphorus (P) calcium (Ca) iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) ranged from 1000 1900, 360 669, 15.0 192.3, 2.26 11.6 and 1.67 4.26 mg.100g 1 respectively in all the species of studied legume varieties. The wide variation in the chemical and physical properties of observed nine legume varieties, suggesting possible applications for various end use products.