Potential of the less widespread species of annual legumes for grain: Faba bean (Vicia faba l)

Abstract

Faba bean (Vicia faba L) represents one of the most important protein sources for both human consumption, mainly in the form of immature pods and immature grains, and animal feeding, mostly in the form of mature grains A small-plot trial has been carried out at the Rimski Sancevi Experiment Field of the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops during 2005 and 2006, including ten faba bean genotypes of diverse geographic origin from the Annual Forage Legumes Collection of the Forage Crops Department (Tab. 1). All genotypes were sown in early March, with a crop density of 55 plants nr2, and were harvested in the stage of full maturity of the first pods. There were significant differences in all monitored characteristics between the ten examined genotypes at the levels of 0.05 and 0.01 (Table 2). Grain yield measured after the harvest and at a moisture content of 14 %, in average varied between 3670 kg ha-1 in Tanagra and 6860 kg ha-1 in B-413. Straw yield, determined on the basis of grain yield per plant and plant mass of the samples taken before the harvest, in average ranged from 3518 kg ha-1 in Tanagra to 6690 kg ha-1 in B-413. Harvest index, calculated as a ratio between grain yield per plant and plant mass, in average varied from 0.60 Mammoth and 0.59 in Petite Windsor to 0.44 in PP 1 and Debek. Potential grain crude protein yield, determined on the basis of grain yield and an average value of grain crude protein content in faba bean of 325 g kg-1, in average ranged between 1193 kg ha-1 in Tanagra and 2230 kg ha-1 in B-413. Potential straw crude protein yield, determined on the basis of straw yield and an average value of straw crude protein content in faba bean of 99 g kg-1, in average ranged from 348 kg ha-1 in Tanagra and 374 kg ha-1 in Petite Windsor to 714 kg ha-1 in B-412. Faba bean has a considerable potential for grain production, with grain yields at the same level as protein pea and grain crude protein yields of more than 1500 kg ha-1, and can respresent an excellent additional protein feed to soya bean meal. Although less rich than grain, faba bean straw can be a source of protein for various purposes. The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to the Institute for Agrobotany in Tapioszele, Hungary, the Fodder Crops and Pastures Institute in Larissa, Greece, the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture, the national Plant Germplasm System, USA, and the Institute of Plant Production Piest'any in Piest'any, Slovakia, as donors of the Annual Forage Legumes Collection.

Mikroogled, izveden tokom 2005. i 2006. godine na oglednom polju Instituta za ratarstvo i povrtarstvo na Rimskim Šančevima, uključio je deset genotipova boba (Vicia faba L) različitog geografskog porekla. Prosečan prinos zrna varirao je između 3670 kg ha-1 kod genotipa Tanagra i 6860 kg ha-1 kod genotipa B-413. Najviši prosečni prinos slame utvrđen je kod genotipa B-413 (6690 kg ha-1), dok je najniži prinos slame utvrđen kod genotipa Tanagra (3518 kg ha-1). Genotipovi Mammoth i Petite Windsor odlikovali su se značajno višim žetvenim indeksom u odnosu na ostalih osam ispitivanih genotipova boba (0,60 i 0,59). Prosečne vrednosti ostvarivog prinosa sirovih proteina zrna, kretale su se od 1193 kg ha-1 kod genotipa Tanagra do 2230 kg ha-1 kod genotipa B-413. Najviši prosečni prinos slame utvrđen je kod genotipa B-412 (714 kg ha-1), dok je značajno niži prinos sirovih proteina slame utvrđen kod genotipova Tanagra i Petite Windsor (348 kg ha-1 i 374 kg ha-1).