FABA BEAN AGRONOMY Sherrilyn Phelps, MSc., P.Ag., CCA Feb 17, 2017 TOPICS TO COVER •Interest and acres •Agronomy •Experience Source: S. Phelps, SPG 2015 INTEREST IN FABA BEANS Acreage in Western Canada - based on Crop Insurance Acreage Year AB SK MB Total 2014 80,000 20,000 100,000 2015 110,000 61,792 9,040 >180,000 2016 55,000 50,000 9,500 114,500 ACREAGE OF FABA BEAN W. CAN. (2012-2016) Seeded Acres of Faba Beans 120000 100000 80000 60000 40000 20000 0 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 AB SK MB FABA BEAN ACRES 2016 • Like moisture • Tolerate flooding better than other pulses • Prefer medium textured soils • Black and Northern parts of dark brown soil zones WATER RESPONSE OF FABA BEAN Alberta Agriculture (1974-77, Vauxhall and Brooks) For full yield potential need lots of moisture!! • 8-10 inches suggested • Spring soil moisture + 44.5 rainfall or irrigation bu/acre 300 mm moisture (12”) APHANOMYCES ROOT ROT •Faba beans varieties have more tolerance than pea / lentil but similar to chickpea 100 t o o n 80 r r oi 60 o t a ) r 40 % u ( o y lo 20 t ir cs 0 e i veS d 4-681 11-5681 61-912 1-332 31-742 01-643 2-604 9-015 11-215 13-825 4-155 1-807 59 rB/ztilB reitnorFCD wodaeMC ellebaF 4-9BF tnerolF asopmI dribwonS pordwonS 1 -SNSS ocssabaT raobaT ogitreV D C C ALTERNATIVE PULSE OPTIONS Resistance to Aphanomyces Source: Dr. Banniza & Dr. Chatterton STANDABILITY IS GOOD Faba beans Peas Photo: S. Phelps, SPG from Medstead, September 2015 NITROGEN FIXATION (Dr. Fran Walley, U of S) Faba bean are the highest N-fixing legume grain crop