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Fababean
Production Guide
Adaptation to North Dakota: Cool-season grain legume. It can best be utilized when included in crop rotations for its nitrogen-fixing capabilities. Canadian research indicates that fababean can fix two times more nitrogen than soybeans.
Rotations: Minimum of two years between canola, mustard, sunflower, dry bean, lentil, lupin, pea, and alfalfa.
Planting Date & Conditions: Late April to mid-May
Seeding Pattern: Solid seeded
Seeding Rate: 120-160 lbs/acre
Seeding Depth: 2-4 inches
Fertility Requirements: Inoculate seed with correct bacteria. Adequate amounts of phosphorus must be present.
Weed Control: Preemergence (3-7 days after planting) and postemergence (crop 2-4 inches tall) tillage with harrow or rotary hoe may be used.
Water Use: Fababean productivity is enhanced with irrigation.
Fababean requires constant high levels of moisture throughout its development to obtain maximum economic yields. Continue irrigation until lowest pods turn black. No single growth stage has been identified as being more sensitive to moisture stress. Flowering is the most critical period. Total seasonal water needs are 20 inches. Fababeans have a fairly shallow root system (2.5 feet depth).
Soil Conditions: Fertile, well-drained soils are important.
Potential Insects: Blister beetles, grasshoppers, and armyworms.
Potential Diseases: Sclerotinia.
Harvest Requirements: Usually swathed. Fababean plants turn black as they ripen. Because of the high moisture content of the plant, a fairly light swath should be laid to hasten dry-down.
Date Harvested: Late August or September.
Markets: No established markets exist. May be used as livestock feed and forage, green fallow, or possibly human food.
Average Yield: 1200-2000 lbs/acre dryland, 2800 lbs/acre irrigated (central ND).
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