Short-duration mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek) genotypes differ in performance, water use and apparent water-use efficiency in southern Lao PDR

•Improved nutrition-sensitive food security is vital for subsistence farmers in Laos.•8 short-duration mungbean genotypes were examined in 2 water regimes at 2 sites.•VC1913A, VC3890A and VC7118A used less water during grain filling (P < 0.05).•VC7118A had high apparent water-use efficiency, low water use and high grain yield.•Drill sowing would allow post-rice mungbeans to use residual water in the dry season.