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 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 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 many 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