Crop diversification: Grain legumes in cereal rotations
Crop diversification can improve the resilience of the European agriculture sector, which currently relies on only a few core crops and therefore presents a high risk of failure under the predicted climate changes and extreme weather events, Shelia Alves tells us more.
Cool-season legumes, such as pea, faba bean and lupin, are well suited for growing in Ireland, often performing better here than most EU countries. These crops are recognised as excellent sources of in demand plant protein for both the feed and food markets, while rendering key ecosystem services.
Legumes are effective break crops in cereal rotations (interrupting the cycle of diseases such as take-all); promote biological nitrogen fixation, which allows for lower inputs (no nitrogen application in legume crop plus potential to decrease input of N for following crop); improve soil quality through beneficial effects on soil biological, chemical and physical conditions; and increase biodiversity, especially insect pollinators.
Specific legume crops perform differently under unfavourable conditions. Faba beans are considered the best performer under favourable conditions (heavier soils, no water stress), and the agronomic practices to attain stable production are advanced. Strategies for mitigation of bird damage, pests (such as bruchid beetle) and diseases (such as chocolate spot) are being assessed.
Peas tend to perform better than beans in sandy soils and/or water deficit. However, this crop is susceptible to lodging under Northern European conditions, which is the main reason for the decline of its production over the last decades. Intercropping with a cereal or another legume can reduce the risk of lodging, making it more viable in Ireland.
Recent studies of new varieties of narrow-leaf lupins have demonstrated the high potential of this crop in Ireland. While the crop would yield lower then both peas and beans, its higher protein content and suitability for sandy soils suggests the crop could be of interest in conditions where other crops are not viable.
At the Crops and Cover Crop Cultivations Open Day on Wednesday, 21 June in Teagasc Oak Park, Carlow, Sheila Alves and her team will present a wide range of work on beans, peas, intercropping, pests, diseases and new legume species. What the video below for more information:
The opportunities for protein crops in Ireland - both in terms of crop agronomics and the food chain - will be discussed in detail at the upcoming Crops and Cover Crop Cultivations Open Day in Teagasc Oak Park on Wednesday, June 21st. Visit the event webpage for more information.