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Leguminous field bean asset in cropping plan
The area of field beans in the Netherlands is growing steadily. The crop has great potential for the arable farming sector, partly due to the advice of the Soil Relatedness Committee that by 2025, 65% of the protein must come from their own land on every livestock farm. Moreover, there is an increasing demand for beans for meat substitutes for human consumption.
The field bean is a leguminous crop that can fix nitrogen from the air. During cultivation it is important to pay attention to the structure of the soil; good drainage and moist soil is essential. The pH value should be higher than 6 on clay soil and more than 5,2 on sandy and trough soil.
For the arable farming sector, this crop is a valuable addition to the cultivation plan, as it counts as a third crop in crop diversification. It is also attractive to enter into a partnership with livestock farming, as field beans fit well into rations.
Added value in the building plan
Adding the field bean to the cultivation plan has many advantages for arable farmers. The crop fits into an expansion of cropping plans and lends itself well to partnerships with livestock farmers. In addition, the nitrogen fixation is a major advantage. Not only does a field bean fix its own nitrogen, the field bean also supplies 70 to 100 kilos of nitrogen to subsequent crops.
In addition, the crop leaves a nice stubble and structure, and can at least keep up with grains in terms of balance. Field beans count as a greening crop in the Ecological Attention Area (EA), but the use of plant protection products is not permitted.
Advantages of field bean cultivation
- Valuable leguminous dormant crop. Requires minimal nitrogen input and supplies up to 100 kilos of nitrogen to subsequent crops.
- Local, GMO-free plant-based protein. Homegrown protein, growing sales in human consumption (sales of meat substitutes have increased by 2017% since 51).
- Greening crop. Counts crop diversification as third crop and with a factor of 1,0 in Ecological Focus Area.
- An asset in the building plan. Very intensive rooting, beautiful stubble, early from the field.
Read all about the Tundra winter field bean.
