Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
National Capital Region
Division of City Schools – Valenzuela
Valenzuela City School of Mathematics and Science
A. Pablo St., Malinta, Valenzuela City

Enhancing Mung Bean Growth and Yield Through Red Infrared Light

and Varied Platforms

A Research
Presented to the Faculty of the
Science Department of the
Valenzuela City School of Mathematics and Science

In Partial Fulfillment of the subject

Of the Requirements for the subject
RESEARCH III

Banastao, Bjorn Raphael T.

Macabuhay, Lexelle Mae O.
Tiu, Kyn Ayen
9-Del Mundo

MRS. JELLY T. HERNAEZ, LPT

Research Adviser
2024
TABLE OF CONTENT
 Enhancing Mung Bean Growth And Yield Through Red Infrared Exposure And
Varied Platforms

Proponents: Bjorn Raphael T. Banastao, Lexelle Mae O. Macabuhay. Kyn Ayen Tiu

School: Valenzuela City School of Mathematics and Science

Abstract

Mung beans, or Vigna radiata L., is a popular bean that is eaten all around the world, particularly
in Asian nations, where they have a long history of use in traditional medicine. The mung bean is
mostly cultivated on warmer regions, making it disadvantageous to the colder regions. The
research aims to explore the potential benefits of using infrared light and various platforms as a
sustainable method to enhance crop productivity. In this study, mung beans (Vigna radiata L.)
were exposed to red infrared light while in different platforms to investigate the growth and
development of the plant. The results show that there is a significant difference in the growth
rate of the mung beans (Vigna radiata L.) when placed in soil while being exposed red infrared
light compared to the other groups.

Keywords: Mung beans (Vigna radiata L.), red infrared light, productivity, growth.

INTRODUCTION

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2022 there will be an

increase in population and more people will be homeless and starve (Bank, A. D. 2023). Most

plants grow slowly and take a lot of time to grow. According to the United Nations' most recent

State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report, 50.9 million Filipinos lacked regular

access to enough food in 2022. With nearly half of Southeast Asia’s 110.9 million people living

in food security, the Philippines has the highest prevalence of moderate-to-severe food scarcity

(Rosales, 2023). A region of the electromagnetic spectrum known as red infrared typically has

wavelengths between.
 Mung beans, or Vigna radiata L., are popular beans that are eaten all around the world,

but particularly in Asian nations, they have been used in traditional medicine. It has been shown

to be a great source of dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins, and substantial levels of bioactive

substances, such as peptides, polyphenols, and polysaccharides. As a result, it gained popularity

as a functional food for boosting health. (Liang et al., 2020)

A similar study also stated that mung beans have been documented for their antioxidant,

antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties (Liu et al., 2014). Various factors

affected the composition of plant chemicals. To explore the quality of mung beans under

different light conditions, mung bean seedlings were subjected to red light-emitting diodes

(LEDs) and ultraviolet-B (UV-B) (Liu et al., 2014).

One drawback of mung beans is that farmers encounter various obstacles, such as

expensive farm inputs, meager prices for their harvests, damage from wandering animals, the

risk of pest outbreaks, and limited production (PCAARRD, n.d.). Mung beans are plants that

tends to grow on warmer temperature making it disadvantageous to the colder regions, this limits

the potential of mung beans to be utilized to help the need. (Dhillon, 2021)

It is imperative to acknowledge that the optimal growth of plants is contingent upon

the prudent provision of infrared light (Lorenz, 2024). Excessive exposure to infrared radiation

has the potential to disrupt the natural blooming cycle and, in severe cases, result in plant

mortality due to thermal stress induced by heightened heat emission. To ensure adherence to

acceptable radiation thresholds, diligent observation of temperature variations within grow

environments is advised. (Lorenz, 2024)

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Gathering of Materials

The researchers planned to obtain six tupperwares specifically intended for the purpose of

acting as containers to hold the plant along with all its associated variables, which contributed in

providing a controlled environment essential for conducting the experiment effectively (Naik,

2020).

Mung beans, a vital component of the experiment, were acquired from a local market

located in Polo, Valenzuela. The procurement of these mung beans marked the beginning of a

meticulous process where they served as the primary focus of observation. Throughout the

duration of the experiment, the nurturing and monitoring of the mung beans received dedicated

care to ensure optimal growth and enable detailed examination of their development stages

(Grant, 2021).

The selection process for the soil used in the project entails visiting a reputable local store

renowned for its vast assortment of soil types catering to various gardening needs. After careful

consideration, they have opted for Loam soil, a nutrient-rich variant prized for its exceptional

moisture retention properties. By acquiring this specific type of soil from the specialized store,

they ensured that the experiment has a solid foundation that will nurture and support the growth

of the plants (Grant, 2021).

The cotton, essential for the study, served as a crucial component that was utilized as

a comparison to the loam soil. This particular type of cotton acquired from the conveniently

located drug store named Mercury, located in Valenzuela the particular brand that was bought
was Happy. The significance of this cotton was its ability to simulate the characteristics of the

loam soil, aiding in the comprehensive analysis of the study (Grant, 2021).

Experimentation procedure

The researchers started with the gathering of materials, they prepared the red infrared

light, six 750ml tupperwares, loam soil, cotton, and water. The researchers made sure that the

materials were all set a week before performing the experiment.

With the use of a measuring cup, the materials were distributed with accordance to the

planned measurements. The researchers requested the help of an electrician to set-up the red

infrared lights, the electrician placed the red infrared light one meter apart from each other and

one meter above the ground (Hydro, 2024).

The researchers then prepared the first three tupperwares and placed 5 cups of loam

soil on the first Tupperware, on the second the researchers placed 10g of cotton, and lastly the

researchers poured 150 ml of water on all tupperwares (Grant, 2021). After the first three

tupperwares, the researchers repeated the same steps on the next three tupperwares. After

preparing the platforms, the researchers placed 1/2 cup of mung beans on all the tupperwares.

After preparing the bases with the mung beans, the researchers placed the first three tupperwares

under their perspective red infrared light, and the next three exposed to sunlight.
Testing of Parameters

The research investigated several parameters to evaluate the growth and productivity of plants. It

entailed individually measuring the length of mung bean plants to determine their average length,

calculating the average number of leaves per group, and monitoring production gained at three-

day intervals to assess overall yield. Various planting conditions such as loam soil, cotton, and

hydroponic growth in mineral water were tested to understand how they influenced mung bean

growth rates. Through detailed examination of these variables, the study aimed to offer insights

into enhancing agricultural techniques for mung beans cultivation.

Length of plant

Throughout the study duration, researchers measured the growth of the mung beans on the final

day. To obtain more precise measurements, each mung bean was individually assessed, and

researchers calculated the average of these measurements. This approach aimed to provide a

comprehensive understanding of the plant's growth dynamics (Peksen, 2015).

Number of Leaves

After the allotted time to finish the experiment, the researchers computed the average number of

leaves for each group. To get the right values and data, the researchers will manually assess the

mung beans carefully (Tan, 2021).

Increase in production

The study involved recording production gains at intervals of every three days. This periodic

assessment quantified the overall yield and productivity of the tomato plants. A carefully chosen

control group served as a baseline for relevant comparisons, allowing researchers to gauge the

effectiveness of any applied interventions or experimental conditions (Grant, 2021).

Platforms

To investigate the growth rate of mung beans under varied platforms, three

experimental groups were established: mung beans planted in loam soil, mung beans planted in

cotton, and mung beans placed in mineral water. After measuring growth metrics after the

experiment and conducting statistical analysis, any significant differences in growth rates among

the groups were determined. This experiment aimed to discern the impact of platforms on mung

bean growth, informing agricultural practices for optimal cultivation.

RESULTS

I: Length of the plant

Material Red Infrared Light Sunlight

Loam Soil 16.33cm 16cm

Cotton 13.50cm 13.49cm

Water 14.25cm 12.98cm

The researchers measure the plants individually and computed the length of the plant for

each data. The mung beans exposed to red infrared light whilst being in loam soil had the length

of 16.33cm, while having 16cm when exposed to sunlight, the mung beans in cotton has the

length of 13.50cm while being exposed to the red infrared light and 13.49cm in length when

exposed to sunlight, the mung beans exposed to the red infrared light that was placed on water

grew to the length of 14.25cm and grew 12.98cm when exposed to sunlight (Islam et al., 2021).
II: Average number of leaves per mung bean
Material Red Infrared Light Sunlight

Loam Soil 2.5 2

Cotton 2.3 2.5

Water 2.5 1.5

The researcher manually counted the number of leaves in the tupperware and computed

the average amount of leaves for each group, as the table showed, both loam soil and water

showed that the mung beans have a higher average number of plants on being exposed to red

infrared light compared to the data observed in both groups when exposed to sunlight, while the

mung beans in cotton showed that the average number of leaves that are exposed to red infrared

light is less than the average number of leaves when exposed to sunlight (Guayan et al., 2021)

III: Increase of production

Material Red Infrared Light Sunlight

Loam Soil 434 480

Cotton 373 357

Water 420 332

The researchers manually counted the number of mung beans sprouted during the time

period, the original number of mung beans per group is 500 and upon gathering the data, it

shows that when the mung beans are exposed to sunlight while being in loam soil has a higher

chance of growth rather than the mung beans exposed to red infrared light, the same goes for the

mung beans in water (Hou et al., 2019).

DISCUSSION

The results of this study provided valuable information on the effect of red infrared light

on different bases (Loam soil, cotton, tap water) on the growth of mung beans (Vigna radiata) in

terms of evaluating parameters including length of the plant, number of leaves and increase of

production (Islam et al., 2021). Initially, various bases namely loam soil (300g), cotton(20g) and

tap water(100ml), were prepared before the experiment, after which the heights of the plants

were individually measured and computed (Guayan et al., 2021).

The analysis showed significant differences between experimental groups that effectively

answered the written question/s. When the average of the length of the plant for each group was

computed, it was evident that the plants exposed to red infrared light has a greater value,

specifically the mung bean that was planted in loam soil (Hou et al., 2019).

In relation with the plant height study, the researchers also looked. at the average amount

of leaves per plant (Diatta et al., 2018). After gathering the data, it showed that, cotton has the

highest total average amount of leaves compared to the loam soil which followed the cotton and

lastly the water (Castanha et al., 2019). In particular, the researchers used the same methods the

one used in measuring the length, which ensured the consistency of the measurement methods

(Guayan et al., 2021).

Finding the number of mung beans did not require the use of a machine; rather, the

researchers manually counted the number of plants for each group (Baza et al., 2022). After

getting the data, the researchers proceeded with their computation using one-way anova, showing

significant difference between the number of mung beans exposed with red infrared light and the

mung beans exposed with sunlight (Hou et al., 2019). Additionally, the findings showed that the
mung beans planted in loam soil had the greatest amount of mung beans with a total of 914,

followed by the water and the cotton (Islam et al., 2021).

CONCLUSION

In general results, application of red infrared light to the mung beans showed a

significant effect on the length of the plant, number of leaves and the increase of production. In

addition, varying bases for the mung beans (Loam soil, cotton, tap water) significantly differed

in length of the plant, number of leaves and the increase of production, indicating that mung

beans in loam soil and affected by the red infrared light was the most effective way of planting

the mung bean. Therefore, the use of red infrared light in different bases of the mung beans

(Vigna radiata L.) was effective.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The researchers, Bjorn Banastao, Lexelle Mae O. Macabuhay, and Kyn Ayen Tiu, would

like to give their gratitude and acknowledgement to the following people.

First and foremost, the researchers would like to thank their peers, that helped with the

occasional sharing of opinion and the constant support they showed during the process of making

the research paper. The researchers would also like to thank their respective guardians for the

guide, support and financial assistance they have given us and for being by the researchers’ side

in the process of making this paper. To the specialized people that helped with the conducting of
the experiment, Jeremy Aquino Mirador, major in agriculture, and Vernon Magalued, electrical

engineer.

And of course, the researchers would like to thank their research adviser for teaching,

guiding, sharing her knowledge, and the constant piece of advice she gave for the research paper.

Mrs. Jelly Tubal-Hernaez. Lastly, the researcher would like to give praise and honor the

Almighty God, creator of heaven and the earth, for giving them strength to finish the paper with

grace and enthusiasm.

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