Faba bean: an alternative to soybean in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Abstract

For farmers in Nova Scotia who wish to be self-sufficient in animal feed, and in N fertilizer, the faba bean offers a number of advantages over soybean: (i) no special processing is required; (ii) nodulation is generally spontaneous in N.S. soils (no inoculation required); (iii) nitrogen fixation is roughly double that of soybean; (iv) faba bean is better adapted than soybean for growth on low nitrate soils. Nitrogen fixation (ca 140 kg N/ha) is sufficient to allow the N balance in a rotation system to be maintained or augmented when manures are returned to the field. The main problem is to ensure that the N from animal and green manures is available to plants when required. This problem must be approached at the local level. In addition, selection of suitable varieties and appropriate rnanagement strategies are essential in combatting Chocolate Spot, its major disease.