Dossier

Strengthen the cultivation of legumes

Herwart Böhm | 09.06.2022

BW Institute of Farm Economics

AT Institute of Agricultural Technology BD Institute of Biodiversity AK Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture OL Institute of Organic Farming

Legumes are essential for Organic Farming: they stimulate soil fertility, fix atmospheric nitrogen as an important nitrogen source for arable crops and grassland, increase the diversity of crop rotations,are the most important source of feed protein in organic livestock farming. Legumes could also have a positive effect in conventional cultivation, but their competitiveness compared to other crops is even lower here.

At the Thünen Institute, we are therefore developing cultivation concepts for legumes and are also testing species that have been little used to date – for example, vetches. We are currently testing mixed crop systems in particular and usually grow legumes together with a cereal partner. Advantages: higher yield performance and reliability, better weed suppression, lower disease and pest infestation.

In collaboration with the Julius Kühn Institute, we have summarized the scientific findings of the last ten years on the cultivation of legumes in the following meta-study:

In cooperation with the Julius Kühn Institute, we have summarized the scientific findings of the last ten years on the cultivation of legumes in the following meta-study (in German):

Böhm H, Dauber J, Dehler M, Amthauer Gallardo DA, de Witte T, Fuß R, Höppner F, Langhof M, Rinke N, Rodemann B, Rühl G, Schittenhelm S (2020): Fruchtfolgen mit und ohne Leguminosen: ein Review. Journal für Kulturpflanzen 72(10-11):489-509. https://doi.org/10.5073/JfK.2020.10-11.01

Ecological services of legumes

Eine Ackerbohnenpflanze auf einem Feld mit weißen Blüten — Field bean (Vicia faba)

Legumes are one of the most species-rich families with almost 20,000 world-wide cultivated and wild species. These include trees like robinia, shrubs such as common broom, lianas as well innumerable, magnificent flowering annual and perennial herbaceous plants. For agriculture, they are an all-arounder, they

conserve resources such as soil, water, fossil energy sources
have favourable preceding crop and crop rotation effects
strengthen the biodiversity in the agricultural landscape
adapt well to climate change
reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
are suitable for healthy and sustainable human nutrition
are a valuable raw material for a wide range of purposes.

Legumes are characterized by their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil. In organic farming, they are the basis to grow crops without mineral nitrogen fertilizers. Blue lupins and alfalfa have an extensive root system which mobilizes nutrients in the soil in an excellent manner and in addition loosens the soil.

Guide

Best practice for the cultivation of grain legumes

From site selection to aphid infestation, many factors determine whether legumes flower and thrive. Here you will find practical tips for legume cultivation.

Video

Maize-Beans – Organic crude feed with higher value?

How well is a combination of maize and beans suited as a feedstuff for dairy cattle and fattening pigs? This topic was studied by our scientists in Trenthorst. (Video in German)

Projects

Maize and beans in mixed cropping

In the future, the amount of on-farm or locally produced feedstuff should increase to ensure a sustainable protein supply for farm animals. In our project we analyze the potential of the mixed cropping of maize with runner or scarlet runner beans.

Peas, lupins and partners in field trials

Legumes are essential in the system of organic farming because of the nitrogen fixation and their function for the nutrient supply. They improve soil fertility, and provide a protein-rich feed stuff. In field trials with the focus of mixed cropping of grain legumes, especially the cultivation of blue lupins and peas we focused on yield optimisation and weed management. , We also evaluated the feed quality and their contribution to protein supply in organic animal husbandry.

Optimization of spring- and winter pea cultivation by intercropping and a reduced intensity of soil tillage

The agricultural advantages of mixed cultivation in low-input-systems are often demonstrated for the higher yield stability, a more effective weed suppression and a better use of the growth factors light, water and nutrients. We wanted to evaluate in the system of organic farming the mixed cropping especially under a simultaneous reduced intensity of soil cultivation in constricted crop rotations with grain legumes.

The future of grain legumes

The cultivation of legumes is declining in many European countries for many years, despite of a lot of positive properties, but they are usually economically not competitive with other crops. Therefore, cultivation systems with legumes need to be evaluated and developed further on.

Making blue lupins more competitive

Blue lupines have due to their slow youth development only a low competitive ability against weeds. Lupin varieties with higher competitive ability could help to facilitate weed control. We want to develop a test system that detects the weed suppressive effect for Blue lupins, evaluates and helps to identify competitive strong breeding lines.

Small grain legumes in organic feeds for pigs and poultry

The use of early harvested alfalfa and red clover (small grain legumes) as valuable feedstuff for pigs and poultry is studied. Both legumes are processed either to whole crop silage or to dried leaf mass.

RELEVANT

In RELEVANT, the effect of crop diversification with field bean and pea on the diversity of pollinators and epigeic predatory arthropods and the ecosystem services provided by those are quantified and assessed.

Legumes Translated

The aim of EU Thematic Network Legumes Translated is to promote innovation in grain legume cultivation systems and related value chains through the synthesis of existing knowledge and transfer to practice. The Thünen Institutes of Biodiversity and Agricultural Technology are involved in this project together with questions on biodiversity, ecosystem services and environmental impacts.

Optimization of intercropping for biomass production

Intercropping contributes to the biodiversification of cropping systems and often increases yield, as plants with different resource requirements are combined. We develop new intercropping systems for the Andean lupins with maize as well as for white lupins and oats for biomass production.

Further development of cultivation, processing and utilisation of protein crops

Protein crops, especially legumes, play a crucial role in overcoming current challenges such as the climate crisis, feeding the world's growing population, species loss and the resulting need to transform agricultural and food systems towards greater sustainability and resilience.