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Faba Beans

Vicia faba

One of the oldest crops grown, a high source of protein in human diets, and important as a fodder and a forage crop for stock.
 
Faba Beans are an erect, tall crop of 1 - 2.5 m and have the ability to tiller. Depending on variety 1 - 3 tillers are common. The plant has a deep taproot with abundant of feeder roots which fix nitrogen to the soil. Flowering begins at 20 cm in height and grows in clusters of 3 - 8, with each flower cluster producing 1 - 5 pods. As the crop ripens,s it turns black, with the seed pods becoming ripe from the lowest and working up the stem to the top.
 
pros

  • Is a nitrogen-fixing plant

  •  A valuable component of the arable cropping rotation

  • Excellent break crop enhances cereal yield and decreases the occurrence of take-all

  • Fits well into a sustainable cropping programme

  • Stubble residue is a nutrition source for stock feed

  • Have the potential to improve soil fertility and structure through the deep taproots and nitrogen-fixing ability of the crop

  • As a break crop in the rotation, Faba Beans allow for an alternative approach to disease, pest and weed management

  •  Can tolerate mild winter frosts but the optimum growing temperature is 15 - 25oC

  • Tolerates water logging and acid soil types better than other grain legumes

  • Does best with soil pH ranging from neutral to alkaline pH of 7.0 to 9.0. the liming before establishment may be beneficial

cons

  • The crop may suffer moisture stress in soils that dry quickly

  • Flowers will abort if temperatures exceed 27°C  

  • Sensitive to hot, dry conditions during podding and may require irrigation

  • Little tolerance for compacted or impaired soils

  • Sensitive to herbicide residue present in the ground at the establishment

  • Mixture

  • A valuable component of annual mixes which include herbs, legumes and grasses