Grain Legumes
The cultivation of grain legumes has been popular for several years. Not least, this development has been triggered by agronomic and climatic changes as well as political measures. Agricultural production methods focused on sustainability now have domestic protein crops in their sights, and with them the rising demand for regionally produced food and feed.
Legumes – versatile and valuable for healthy farming
Grain legumes have excellent pre-crop effects. They improve soil structure, have a phytosanitary effect and, in symbiosis with nodule bacteria, supply themselves with nitrogen from the air. The balanced supply of other necessary nutrients, however, is essential.
- Protein and energy from the cultivation of native protein plants.
- Potassium causes the increased formation of nodule bacteria and is therefore the basis for high yields.
- Magnesium promotes protein formation and quality.
- Sulfur improves nitrogen utilization and is indispensable for protein synthesis.
Protein and energy as a feed supplement
Soybeans, field beans, peas, and lupins belong to the large-grain legume species. They are particularly rich in protein and have a high energy value. The domestic grain legumes are mainly used as supplementary feed to soybean meal.
Sustainably high yields can only be achieved with an optimal production process. This includes a targeted supply of nutrients. Grain legumes are capable of fixing nitrogen from the air via nodule bacteria. The prerequisite for effective utilization of this N fixation is, among other things, optimum supply of potassium, magnesium and sulfur.
Grain legumes...
- bind atmospheric nitrogen using nodule bacteria, which is available as a sustainable N source for the following crop via the enteric residues
- have deep tap roots in some cases - this improves the soil structure (field bean, lupin) on the one hand and enables nutrient uptake from deeper soil layers on the other
- promote soil fertility, as they leave behind a good soil coarseness and crumb structure, and the build-up of stable humus forms is promoted
- have a positive impact on water storage capacity and biological activity of the soil
- increase the diversity of the crop rotation
- interrupt the infection chain of soil-borne pathogens
The most important nutrients for grain legumes
Potassium – is the basis of high yields
- Potassium is of great importance for N2 fixation by nodule bacteria and therefore for seed and protein yield.
- The effect is due to both increased formation of nodules and increased bacterial activity.
- A good supply of potassium promotes the formation of proteins from amino acids, as potassium activates important enzymes for this purpose.
- Grain legumes absorb almost the entire potassium requirement of 220-270kg/ha K2O within 6 weeks (shortly before flowering to end of flowering).
- Including the already dead leaves, the plants absorb about 170-200kg/ha K2O until maturity, of which about 40% is contained in the grains.
Magnesium and sulfur – for high protein content and quality
As protein-rich plants, grain legumes have high requirements for magnesium and sulfur.
- A good supply of magnesium to the crop guarantees continued assimilation of the leaves until harvest and therefore ensures optimized storage of the carbohydrates in the grains, promoting yield.
- Magnesium activates a large number of enzyme systems in protein metabolism, thus influencing protein content and quality.
- A good supply of sulfur leads to efficient use of fixed or absorbed nitrogen, promotig overall biomass production and yield.
- Sulfur is indispensable for the formation of sulfur-containing amino acids and consequently for the entire protein synthesis.
Fertilizer recommendations for grain legumes
The following fertilisation recommendations are calculated based on the nutrient removal by the main harvested product and assume optimum soil nutrient levels (soil nutrient status class “C” in Germany). Allowances for site-specific losses through leaching, fixation or erosion are not included.
Recommendation for soil fertilization
- 200-300 kg/ha Korn-KALI; at high yield levels, up to 500 kg/ha to meet potassium requirements while also ensuring the supply of magnesium and sulphur.
- 200 kg/ha ESTA Kieserit GRAN. on magnesium-deficient sites.
Product recommendation
Recommendation for foliar fertilization
Foliar fertilisation effectively supplies the plant with the micronutrients boron, manganese, zinc or copper.
It also specifically complements soil fertilisation with readily available macronutrients such as magnesium or sulphur. During periods of vigorous growth, foliar fertilisation meets peak nutrient demand and reliably ensures optimum nutrient supply even under dry conditions or when sulphur mineralisation is too slow.
This ensures optimum yields and quality. If deficiency symptoms have already occurred, foliar fertilisation provides effective and rapid relief.
Product Recommendations
To meet increased nutrient demand and to prevent or correct a latent deficiency of magnesium, sulphur and micronutrients, the use of 5–20 kg/ha epsoMICROTOP or epsoMULTITOP is recommended. The application rate can be split into one to two applications between the 4-leaf stage and the start of flowering.
