Identifying regionally adapted winter pea and faba bean genotypes that maximize grain and cover cropping potential

View the project final report

• 2014 annual report
• 2015 annual report

Commodities

• Agronomic: barley, oats, peas (field, cowpeas), wheat
• Miscellaneous: faba beans

Practices

• Animal Production: winter forage
• Crop Production: cover crops, crop rotation, intercropping
• Education and Training: extension
• Production Systems: integrated crop and livestock systems
• Sustainable Communities: new business opportunities

Field screening trials of nineteen winter pea (Pisum sativum) genotypes and five faba bean (Vicia faba) genotypes were installed across multiple locations in North Carolina from 2014 through 2017. The winter pea genotypes are being screened for multiple end uses including use as a grain, forage, and cover crop.  Winter pea is being screened in monoculture and in mixture with barley, oats, and wheat for the different end uses. Faba beans are being screened in monoculture. Results will catalyze cultivar release of regionally adapted winter legumes for the Southeast USA.

1. Conduct field screening trials to assess available winter pea and faba bean germplasm for genotypes that exhibit desirable attributes for use as grain, forage, and cover crops in the Southeast.
2. Evaluate nutritive value and protein content for all genotypes to determine value as soybean replacers in livestock feed rations.
3. Catalyze the development and release of regionally adapted cultivars through the provision of recommendations on successful winter pea and faba bean genotypes.