Optimal timing for fava bean planting, pod harvesting, and termination in Northern California

Fava bean has been cultivated as a grain, vegetable, and cover crop in California for more than a century. Despite a decline in popularity as a grain, many growers are taking a second look to satisfy demands for vegetable fava bean (pod) and to provide plant-derived nitrogen (N) to grow summer cash...

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Main Authors: Kyle Brasier, Margaret Smither-Kopperl, Valerie Bullard, Shawn Vue, Christopher Bernau, Hossein Zakeri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources 2024-06-01
Series:California Agriculture
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3733/001c.120416
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author Kyle Brasier
Margaret Smither-Kopperl
Valerie Bullard
Shawn Vue
Christopher Bernau
Hossein Zakeri
author_facet Kyle Brasier
Margaret Smither-Kopperl
Valerie Bullard
Shawn Vue
Christopher Bernau
Hossein Zakeri
author_sort Kyle Brasier
collection DOAJ
description Fava bean has been cultivated as a grain, vegetable, and cover crop in California for more than a century. Despite a decline in popularity as a grain, many growers are taking a second look to satisfy demands for vegetable fava bean (pod) and to provide plant-derived nitrogen (N) to grow summer cash crops. This paper presents the results of a series of experiments aimed at quantifying fava bean biomass and N at planting date and termination, as well as pod production in response to the harvest scheme. Sowing before the end of October resulted in the highest biomass and N in Northern California. Termination of fava bean cover crops in early April between the flowering and first pod stage increased the forage yield of the following crop (sudangrass), compared to termination at the earlier branching stage, which is typically in late February. We found that delaying vegetable pod harvest until the end of the growing season resulted in low fresh-pod yields. The results provide a starting point for growers interested in incorporating fava bean.
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id doaj-art-5a108468dd3a4e70b4b682c90ca0f569
institution Kabale University
issn 0008-0845
2160-8091
language English
publishDate 2024-06-01
publisher University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
record_format Article
series California Agriculture
spelling doaj-art-5a108468dd3a4e70b4b682c90ca0f5692025-08-20T04:00:54ZengUniversity of California Agriculture and Natural ResourcesCalifornia Agriculture0008-08452160-80912024-06-0178210.3733/001c.120416Optimal timing for fava bean planting, pod harvesting, and termination in Northern CaliforniaKyle BrasierMargaret Smither-KopperlValerie BullardShawn VueChristopher BernauHossein ZakeriFava bean has been cultivated as a grain, vegetable, and cover crop in California for more than a century. Despite a decline in popularity as a grain, many growers are taking a second look to satisfy demands for vegetable fava bean (pod) and to provide plant-derived nitrogen (N) to grow summer cash crops. This paper presents the results of a series of experiments aimed at quantifying fava bean biomass and N at planting date and termination, as well as pod production in response to the harvest scheme. Sowing before the end of October resulted in the highest biomass and N in Northern California. Termination of fava bean cover crops in early April between the flowering and first pod stage increased the forage yield of the following crop (sudangrass), compared to termination at the earlier branching stage, which is typically in late February. We found that delaying vegetable pod harvest until the end of the growing season resulted in low fresh-pod yields. The results provide a starting point for growers interested in incorporating fava bean.https://doi.org/10.3733/001c.120416
spellingShingle Kyle Brasier
Margaret Smither-Kopperl
Valerie Bullard
Shawn Vue
Christopher Bernau
Hossein Zakeri
Optimal timing for fava bean planting, pod harvesting, and termination in Northern California
California Agriculture
title Optimal timing for fava bean planting, pod harvesting, and termination in Northern California
title_full Optimal timing for fava bean planting, pod harvesting, and termination in Northern California
title_fullStr Optimal timing for fava bean planting, pod harvesting, and termination in Northern California
title_full_unstemmed Optimal timing for fava bean planting, pod harvesting, and termination in Northern California
title_short Optimal timing for fava bean planting, pod harvesting, and termination in Northern California
title_sort optimal timing for fava bean planting pod harvesting and termination in northern california
url https://doi.org/10.3733/001c.120416
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