beans

Legume is the commonly used name for the family of flowering plants, Fabaceae. Any plant in the Fabaceae family that has leaves, stems and pods are referred to as a Legume.

Legumes are the third largest family of flowering plants, with a family of over 20,000 species. They have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen and release organic matter into the soil ultimately improving soil fertility. 

Lentils, beans and peas are classified as Pulses. Pulses are the edible seed of legumes, whereas legumes are used in agricultural applications such as cover crops and livestock feed. Legumes cover 180 million Ha of the Earth’s surface and make up around 27% of the world's crop production.

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Pulse Crops

Pulses are leguminous crops harvested for dry protein-rich seed, with peas (pisum sativum) and beans (vicia faba) being the major crops in the UK.

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Alternative Proteins

A combination of sustainability, health & animal welfare concerns are pushing a shift away from meat in our diets to alternative proteins.

Biological Nitrogen Fixation

Some symbiotic or free-living microorganisms can fix inert di-nitrogen (N) from the air into reactive organic nitrogenous compounds.  Most biological N fixation (BNF) in farming systems occurs in the root nodules of legumes where rhizobium bacteria take photosynthates from the plant in exchange for fixing atmospheric N and returning ammonium or amides which the plant uses to form amino acids, proteins, etc.   Plants need more N than any other nutrient and N commonly limits plant growth in many ecosystems. 

Field Lab disproves red clover fears on sheep fertility

An Innovative Farmers Field Lab with four sheepers farmers working with ADAS has shown that long-held fears of red clover in herbal leys affecting fertility in sheep are unfounded, with the findings that inclusion of the legume can even have a positive effect on pregnancy rates.

Intercropping

Intercropping is a method of planting two or more crops in close proximity to each other, either in alternate rows or in the same row. The goal of intercropping is to maximize the use of available space and resources, such as sunlight, water, and nutrients. It can also help to improve soil health and increase crop diversity, which can provide a range of benefits including increased resistance to pests and diseases, and a longer harvest season.

Funding for sustainable farm-based proteins

George Eustice has announced that there willl be £12.5M made available for research and developme

Beans

Field beans (vicia faba) are a widely grown break crop across the UK on around 170,000 ha. 

Pulse PEP
Peas

Peas (pisum sativum) are grown either for combining dry seed (combining peas) or harvesting fresh as a vegetable or for freezing (vining peas).

Pulse PEP
Legume Innovation Network

Following the TRUE and LegValue EU projects this LinkedIn group with over 100 members continues to share resources for those interested in legume crops,

Pulse PEP
Get involved in intercropping trials

Innovative Farmers, as part of their involvement in the Horizon Europe LEGUMINOSE project we will be setting up trials with Reading University to look at the benefits of intercropping in arable rotations.

Plant Based Protein

This Topic doesn't yet have a Stewarded summary, but connected groups, content and organisations show below. Click the 'Ask to Join' button if you would like to be a Steward for this Topic and provide a summary of current knowledge and recommend useful resources, organisations, networks and projects. "Like" this Topic if you would like to see it prioritised for providing a wikipedia style summary.   Branston are creating a potato derived protein product.

Legume Hub

Scientia potentia est: knowledge is power. But understanding empowers. The purpose of the Legume Hub is to empower all interested in the development of legume crop production and use by providing access to validated knowledge. It is a platform dedicated to sharing knowledge and successful practices across value chains, from plant breeding, on-farm activities, through to processing and consumption.

Pulse PEP
Clover

Clover is commonly used as a cover crop, forage crop, and soil improvement tool. 

LEGUMINOSE - Legume-cereal intercropping for sustainable agriculture across Europe

Sustainable agriculture through legume-cereal intercropping.  The LEGUMINOSE project will provide science-based, farmer-led, and economically viable systems and techniques for legume-based intercropping. In the UK the Farm Living Labs will be run as an Innovative Farmers field lab [https://www.innovativefarmers.org/]. We are looking for 20 farms to take part in trials looking at yield and soil health benefits of intercrops from a range of crop mixes in organic, conventional and regenerative systems as well as in different locations across the UK. If you are interested contact Jerry [email protected] We'd also love to hear from farmers about their experiences of intercropping, or what prevents them from practicing it! Please help the project by completing this anonymous questionnaire (it takes about 15 minutes). Thankyou.  

Teagasc Lupins Page

The lupin plant is a legume capable of fixing N and consequently is a good break crop that can be produced using normal cereal production machinery.

Pulse PEP
Teagasc Peas Page

The pea crop is a grain legume, which produces a high protein feed for animal or human nutrition.

Pulse PEP
Testing Soil for Legume Fatigue

Among legume crops, forage peas and field beans show the most symptoms of legume fatigue.

Pulse PEP
Nitrogen Fixation

Nitrogen (N) is not a scarce element on earth but the most abundant forms (N2 gas in the atmosphere and N fixed in the earth’s crust and sediments) are not directly available for plants.

Pulse PEP
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