Grain legumes

 

General information

Field beans, peas and lupins are just a few of the large-grain legume types grown today. They are particularly rich in protein and are characterised by a high energy value. Domestic grain legumes are mainly used as a supplementary feedstuff, to complement bought in animal feed.

 

Sustainably high yields may only be achieved by optimised production methods and central to this is a specifically tailored nutrient supply. Grain legumes are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen, due to a rhizobia bacterium which can be found on its root nodules. An adequate supply of potassium, magnesium and sulphur is of para-mount importance in helping this N generating system to work efficiently.

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Grain legumes effectively build soil fertility for following crops.

Grain legumes...

• fix atmospheric nitrogen, aided by rhizobia. Crop residues provide this nitrogen as a sustainable source of nitrogen to subsequent crops.
• generally have deep tap roots (esp. field beans and lupins), which help to improve soil structure and allow for nutrient absorption from deeper soil layers.
• promote soil fertility, as they are excellent soil conditioners, leaving behind friable soils with stable humus forms.
• favourably influence the soils’ field capacity and microbial activity.
• are a very useful alternative break crop for many rotations
• Effectively break the life cycle of many soil-borne pathogens.

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Potassium is the foundation for high yields

• Potassium is instrumental for N-fixation facilitated by rhizobia and therefore also for seed and protein production.
• This effect is partially due to increased node development, but also to enhanced microbial activity.
• Sufficient potassium supply promotes the creation of proteins from amino acids, as potassium activates the responsible enzymes.
• Within a period of six weeks (prior to, and during flowering) grain legumes take up their entire potassium requirement of around 220-270 kg K2O ha^-1.
• At maturity, plants including dead leaves contain approxi-mately 170-200 kg K₂O ha^-1, of which 40% is to be found in the seeds.

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Magnesium and sulphur for high protein content and quality

As protein-rich plants, grain legumes have high magnesium and sulphur requirements.

• Sufficient supply of magnesium to the crop guarantees pro-longed assimilation by the leaves, thereby assuring optimal carbohydrate storage in the seeds. This favourably influences yields.
• Magnesium activates a variety of enzyme systems in the protein metabolism, thereby influencing protein content and quality.
• Sufficient supply of sulphur results in a more efficient utilisation of nitrogen, thereby increasing yields.
• Sulphur is indispensable for the creation of sulphur-containing amino acids, and therefore for the entire protein synthesis.

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Fertiliser recommendations

Recommendations for soil conditioning

• * 300–400 kg ha^-1 Korn-Kali as an autumn application, for meeting potassium requirements; at the same time, magnesium and sulphur supplies are secured

   

  Korn-Kali^®

• 400–500 kg ha^-1 Patentkali for soil conditioning just before sowing, e.g. on lighter soil, in order to prevent salt accumula-tion damages. At the same time, magnesium and sulphur needs are met.

   

  Patentkali^®

• 200 kg ha^-1 ESTA Kieserite gran., on Mg-deficient locations. In case of a wide K:Mg ratio in the soil, 300–400 kg ha^-1 should be applied. This also ensures an adequate supply of sulphur .

   

  ESTA^® Kieserit gran. 

Recommendations for foliar fertilisation

• A total of * 20-25 kg ha^-1 EPSO Microtop in a 5% concentration, for meeting peak demands, i.e. for rectifying latent deficiencies of magnesium, sulphur and trace minerals. Product may be applied in several split applications.

   

  EPSO Microtop^®