Biofortified Field Peas

Field Peas grow at WP Rawl

Growing Organic Pulse Crops

Breeding Biofortified Pulses for the U.S. Cropping System

 As part of the USDA Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), this project aims to "solve current organic agriculture issues, priorities, or problems through the integration of research, education, and extension activities"(USDA-NIFA, 2019). To accomplish the task at hand, the project's research objectives and goals directly address crucial demands of both producers, processors, and consumers.

Research Goals

I. Breed high yielding and healthier varieties of field pea and sorghum for consumers

II. Advance genomic and phenotyping technologies to facilitate organic variety development

III. Understand how plant breeding can build more sustainable and healthier food systems

  • Why Grow Organic?

    1) U.S. organic agriculture sales increase every year, rising from $28.4 billion in 2012 to $35 billion in 2014, and accounting for greater than 5% of the total U.S. food sales by 2017. Consumers show a keen interest in organic products as of their perceived higher nutritional quality and safety status, so economic returns for this market are high.

    2) Organic agriculture can promote greater overall environmental and soil health, as it puts greater focus on better crop rotation strategies, animal welfare, soil quality, and plant and animal diversity, while reducing the reliance on chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, nonrenewable resources, and unnecessary antibiotics. Scientific studies have confirmed that organic farms have less greenhouse emissions, soil erosion and nutrient leaching than conventional farming systems, while maintaining greater soil diversity and nutrition.

    3) Economic analyses have concluded that organic agriculture can be 22% - 35% more profitable than conventional agriculture, with increased benefit/cost ratios. However, the increased labor needed for organic farm maintenance does present an extra expense for farmers, but also represents an opportunity for increased employment for rural and developing areas, benefiting communities and promoting social wellbeing overall.

    Reganold, J. P., & Wachter, J. M. (2016, February Organic agriculture in the twenty-first century. Nature Plants. https://doi.org/10.1038/nplants.2015.221

  • Why Grow Peas?

    1) Hardy winter crop a) Field pea is a cool season legume that can be planted in late December to mid-January, with the crop then harvested — just in time for summer planting.

    2) Markets for human consumption and livestock feed a) Field pea is enriched in protein, carbohydrate, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

    3) Increase soil health and fertility a) As legumes, field peas supply nitrogen back to the soil, increase water retention, and release other nutrients in the soil.

    4) Good in rotational cropping systems a) Field pea will aid in breaking up pest and disease cycles for other crops.

Field Pea Planting

2019
  • Using a cone plot planter, cultivars were sown in 1.4×6 m plots (8.4 m2) (4.6×19.7 ft; 90.4 ft2) containing 7 rows spaced 17.8 cm (7 in) apart, with a seeding depth of 5-7 cm (~2-3 in).
  • A conventional grain drill was used for “Hampton” with a row spacing of 15.2 cm (6 in) and a seeding depth of 5-7 cm (~2-3 in).
  • The PSPPC accessions were sown in 1.2 m (4 ft.) plots containing two rows spaced 38 cm (15 in) apart, with a seeding depth of 5-7 cm (~2-3 in).
  • USDA organically certified inoculant was purchased from Peaceful Valley Farm Supply, Inc.
    • The inoculant rate was 1.4 g per lb. of seed (2.5 oz. per 50 lbs. of seed).
  • Elite & Advanced Breeding Lines seeding rates were 90 seeds/m2.
  • Hampton cultivar was planted at a rate of 120 lbs. per acre.

Preparation & Field Management

Preparation
  • ALL field locations are USDA Certified Organic fields.
  • Fields were conventionally tilled using a disc harrow and field cultivator, prior to planting.
    • Disc Harrow: Once - one week; prior to planting
    • Field Cultivator: Twice - 1st: one week & 2nd: one day; prior to planting
  • All fields were smoothly levelled before planting.
  • Border plots were planted first to eliminate the “edge” effect.
  • Each field plot was marked (barcoded) using weather-proof field tags.
  • Soil samples were taken from each location at 0-6" depth prior to planting.
Field Management
  • Weeds were managed using a cultivator, chisel plow, flame weeder, and/or by hand.
    • Every 3-4 weeks after planting.
    • Transition to every 1-2 weeks as temperatures and weed pressure increase.
  • No irrigation was provided.
  • No fertilizers or soil amendments were provided.
Growing Zones:
  • CLEM - Calhoun Field Laboratory (Clemson, SC): Zone 8a
  • RAWL - W.P. Rawl and Sons (Pelion, SC): Zone 8a
Weather Data: Field Pea 2019
Month Location Temperature (℉) Precipitation (in)
High Low
Jan CLEM 53 33 5.5
RAWL 60 38 3.58
Feb CLEM 60 40 7.55
RAWL 67 43 1.72
Mar CLEM 63 40 3.46
RAWL 70 43 2.58
Apr CLEM 74 51 4.55
RAWL 80 54 4.31
May CLEM 85 62 0.76
RAWL 91 65 2.72

 

Production & Harvest

  • No desiccant was used in the drying process prior to harvest.
  • Plots were harvested with a 1979 Almaco SPC 20 with a platform head.
  • Seeds were harvested into cotton drawstring bags and stored in a drying bin equipped with a fan and heater.
  • Seeds were cleaned using an air seed cleaner and sieves.

Field Pea Planting Materials

  • 29 elite field pea cultivars currently in production and 23 advanced breeding lines from the USDA-ARS pulse breeding program were planted at two locations in SC.
  • The commercial field pea cultivar "Hampton" was used as a blanket cultivar to assess N benefit to a subsequent sorghum crop.
  • 297 accessions from the USDA-ARS Pea Single Plant Plus Collection (PSPPC) were planted at one location.
  • USDA organically certified inoculant from Premier Tech Agriculture – AGTIV Pulses Granular Mycorrhizal Inoculant with Rhizobium.
    • The inoculant was applied at a rate of 4 lb./acre with an in-furrow application.
Plot Size & Seeding Rates
  • Using a cone plot planter, cultivars were sown in 1.5×6.1 m plots (9.2 m2) (5×20 ft; 100 ft2) containing 7 rows spaced 17.8 cm (7 in) apart, with a seeding depth of 5-7 cm (~2-3 in).
    • Elite & Advanced Breeding Lines seeding rates were 90 seeds/m2.
  • A conventional grain drill was used for "Hampton" with a row spacing of 15.2 cm (6 in) and a seeding depth of 5-7 cm (~2-3 in).
    • Hampton cultivar was planted at a rate of 150 lbs. per acre.
  • The PSPPC accessions were sown in 1.2x1.2 m (4 ft.) plots containing four rows spaced 38 cm (15 in) apart, with a seeding depth of 5-7 cm (~2-3 in).

Preparation & Field Management

  • ALL field locations are USDA Certified Organic fields.
  • Fields were conventionally tilled using a disc harrow prior to planting.
  • All fields were smoothly leveled before planting.
  • Border plots were planted first to eliminate the "edge" effect.
  • Each field plot was marked using weather-proof field tags.
  • Soil samples were taken from each location at 0-6" depth prior to planting.
Growing Zones:
  • RAWL - W.P. Rawl and Sons (Pelion, SC): Zone 8a
Weather Data: Field Pea 2020
Month Location Temperature (℉) Precipitation (in)
High Low
Jan RAWL 60 38 2.68
Feb RAWL 61 42 6.75
Mar RAWL 71 52 3.33
Apr RAWL 76 52 3.21
May RAWL 80 59 9.32

 

Production & Harvest

  • No desiccant was used in the drying process prior to harvest.
  • 'Advanced' trial plots were harvested with a 1979 Almaco SPC 20 with a platform head.
    • Seeds were harvested into paper bags and stored in a drying bin equipped with a fan and heater.
    • Seeds were cleaned using an air seed cleaner and sieves.
  • 'Germplasm' trial plots were hand-harvested into mesh bags and stored in drying bin.
    • Dried plants were threshed with an Almaco BT14 Belt Thresher.