Mung bean (Vigna radiata) or commonly known as the mongo bean is a plant under the Legume

Family. This bean is primarily cultivated in, East, Southeast, and South Asia (Hommel, 2020). They are
inseparable components in the diets of the vast majority of Asians since they are high in quality protein,
minerals, and vitamins. In Southeast Asian countries, these legumes play an important role in ensuring
food security and crop production sustainability (Mehandi et al., 2019) They are inseparable
components in the diets of the vast majority of Asians since they are high in quality protein, minerals,
and vitamins. In the Philippines, this crop is a source of food, feed, manure, industrial materials
(Greenconvergence, 2016). According to Statista Research Department, in 2020 mongo production
amounted to 37 thousand metric tons and its value equates to around 2.22 billion peso. Even with its
multifaceted benefits, the mongo bean is not a considered premier crop. In fact, even though certain
regions of Mindanao produce 54.8% of the nation’s supply (Philippine Statistic Authority, 2002) it is still
not considered as a major crop in the same regions (Knoema, 2004). The immense agrochemical use in
these agricultural lands has not resulted in proportional yield in the harvest of crops (GreenPeace
Philippines, 2008). They reported that between 1961 and 2005 fertilizer application in agriculture in the
entire Philippines increased by 1000% but rice and maize yield increased only by 200% and 280%
respectively, and around the same decades the use of pesticides climbed by 325 percent, but rice yield
only increased by 30%. Such extensive agrochemical applications have deteriorated soil and water,
which are vital to farmers' health and livelihoods. Additionally, other crops are mainly the victims of this
phenomenon, especially those that are not major products of the region (Tanji, 2002). In an agricultural
setting, soil acidification from non-directly fertilized lands is mainly attributed to runoff fertilizer or
pesticides spread mostly by water (Haines and Swift, 1968) - commonly known as leaching.

This study aims to determine the effect of soil acidification via leaching on the growth of Vigna
radiata.Specifically, it aims to determine the following aspects, albeit, on different acid concentrations
in the water:
a) plant height (cm), measured from the plant crown to the maximum growing point of the main branch;

b) lateral spread (cm), measured as the maximum diameter of the plant;

c) number of leaves

d) plant coloration

The result of this paper is highly significant as the mongo bean is a relatively understudied
specimen as compared to corn and maize (the main reason for the substantial increase use of fertilizer
and pesticides in the nation). Given the multi-faceted benefits (Mehandi et al., 2019), feasible for-
sustainability applications (GreenPeace, 2008), and its economic effects (PSA,2002) the effects of
decades worth of soil and water degradation on mongo bean growth must be documented.