Faba Bean Cultivation – Revealing Novel Managing Practices for More Sustainable and Competitive European Cropping Systems

Abstract

Faba beans are highly nutritious because of their high protein content: they are a good source of mineral nutrients, vitamins, and numerous bioactive compounds. Equally important is the contribution of faba bean in maintaining the sustainability of agricultural systems, as it is highly efficient in the symbiotic fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. This article provides an overview of factors influencing faba bean yield and quality, and addresses the main biotic and abiotic constraints. It also reviews the factors relating to the availability of genetic material and the agronomic features of faba bean production that contribute to high yield and the improvement of European cropping systems. Emphasis is to the importance of using new high-yielding cultivars that are characterized by a high protein content, low antinutritional compound content, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. New cultivars should combine several of these characteristics if an increased and more stable production of faba bean in specific agroecological zones is to be achieved. Considering that climate change is also gradually affecting many European regions, it is imperative to breed elite cultivars that feature a higher abiotic–biotic stress resistance and nutritional value than currently used cultivars. Improved agronomical practices for faba bean crops, such as crop establishment and plant density, fertilization and irrigation regime, weed, pest and disease management, harvesting time, and harvesting practices are also addressed, since they play a crucial role in both the production and quality of faba bean.

Effect of Weather Conditions on Yield and Health Status of Faba Bean Seeds in Poland

“…In the flowering stage (BBCH 63-69), seed yield was considerably affected by precipitation total of 20-25 mm/m 2 and temperature of 16-18 • C. According to Fahad [18], suboptimal water supply and temperatures exert adverse effects on plant growth and yields. Karkanis [26] reported that climate change is also gradually affecting many European regions, so it is imperative to breed elite cultivars that feature a higher abiotic and biotic stress resistance and nutritional value.…”

Legume Biofortification and the Role of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria in a Sustainable Agricultural Era

“…However, these types of studies are still not conclusive as the effect of legume consumption on human health seems to be dependent on the type, amount, and frequency of legume consumption, and they also do not consider the effects of processing [35]. In the environment, legumes are part of the symbiotic N fixation process, reducing the need for N fertilizer, decreasing agricultural CO 2 emissions, and improving soil composition [37]. The inclusion of legumes in crop rotation systems, besides conferring pest and disease resistance to the succeeding crops [38], can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 25% [39].…”

Impact of sustainable tillage on biophysical properties of Planosol and on faba bean yield

“…Faba bean maintains the sustainability of agricultural systems due to efficient symbiotic fixation of atmospheric nitrogen (Karkanis et al 2018). According to the Ntatsi et al (2018) investigations, the total amount of biologically fixed N in faba bean crop varied from 118.5 to 193.9 kg ha −1 depending on the various cropping systems and cultivars.…”