The document discusses pulses (legumes harvested for their dry seeds), which are an important source of plant-based proteins and nutrients. It notes that 2016 was declared the International Year of Pulses by the UN to increase awareness of their nutritional benefits and role in sustainable agriculture. The objectives of the year were to promote the value and utilization of pulses, encourage global production, and address trade challenges. Pulses mentioned include lentils, beans, peas, chickpeas, soybeans and others.

1. Pulses (and) or
legumes

2. • International Year of Pulses 2016
• The 68th UN General Assembly declared 2016 the International Year of
Pulses (IYP) (A/RES/68/231)
• The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has
been nominated to facilitate the implementation of the Year in collaboration
with Governments, relevant organizations, non-governmental organizations
and all other relevant stakeholders.
• The IYP 2016 aims to heighten public awareness of the nutritional benefits
of pulses as part of sustainable food production aimed towards food security
and nutrition.
• The Year will create a unique opportunity to encourage connections
throughout the food chain that would better utilize pulse-based proteins,
further global production of pulses, better utilize crop rotations and address
the challenges in the trade of pulses.

3. The specific objectives of the
IYP 2016
• Raise awareness about the important role of pulses in
sustainable food production and healthy diets and their
contribution to food security and nutrition;
• Promote the value and utilization of pulses throughout
the food system, their benefits for soil fertility and climate
change and for combating malnutrition;
• Encourage connections throughout the food chain to
further global production of pulses, foster enhanced
research, better utilize crop rotations and address the
challenges in the trade of pulses.

4. What are pulses and why are they
important?
• Pulses are annual leguminous crops yielding between
one and 12 grains or seeds of variable size, shape and
colour within a pod, used for both food and feed.
• The term “pulses” is limited to crops harvested solely for
dry grain, thereby excluding crops harvested green for
food, which are classified as vegetable crops, as well as
those crops used mainly for oil extraction and
leguminous crops that are used exclusively for sowing
purposes (based on the definition of “pulses and derived
products” of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations).

5. What are pulses and why are
they important?
• Pulse crops such as lentils, beans, peas and chickpeas are a critical
part of the general food basket. Pulses are a vital source of plant-
based proteins and amino acids for people around the globe and
should be eaten as part of a healthy diet to address obesity, as well
as to prevent and help manage chronic diseases such as diabetes,
coronary conditions and cancer; they are also an important source
of plant-based protein for animals.
• In addition, pulses are leguminous plants that have nitrogen-fixing
properties which can contribute to increasing soil fertility and have a
positive impact on the environment.
• The IYP website will be the main platform to share information and
relevant resources with different partners. The current version will be
updated soon, please come back for more information.

6. Population, Public Health,
Pulses

7. • Agricultural Competitiveness
Improve crop and animal agriculture; enhance farm productivity
and income; policies; supply chain; storage; transportation
• Ecological Footprint
Water/land use, natural resource and environmental stewardship,
greenhouse gas, global climate change, depleted soils
• Bioeconomy
Replacements for petroleum-based products and enhance
community economic well being
• Health
Food safety, (micro)nutrition, obesity, type II diabetes,
cardiovascular disease, dementia, cancer, hunger, poverty
21st Century Food System Challenges

25. Forage & Food Legumes
• Unit 9 Objectives:
– Describe cultural practices of growing forage
legumes, peas
– Identify criteria for selecting forage legumes
– Understand climate/temp needs
– Examine the relationship of maturity – stage
of blooming – to protein content of a forage

26. • Peas
– Processing or market may determine variety
grown
– Cool-season, best grown in late-summer or
early fall
– Both bush and vine types available for edible
pod and regular shelling peas
– Vine types produce more for longer periods of
time
• Require climbing trellis
• Cooler, moist climate

27. – Soil
• Uniformity in fertility, type, slope, drainage required
• Preferred soils: silt loams, sandy loams, clay
loams
• Need good supply of available moisture
• Peas grown in wet soils do not develop adequate
root systems
– Root rot is often problem
– Can dry out as season gets drier
• 6.5 pH or higher for maximum yields

28. – Soil Temperature at Planting
• Good germination at 39-57º
• Ensure firm seedbed
• Level land makes harvesting more efficient
• Harvesting & processing determined by heat units
and the processor
• April plantings - ~70d to harvest
• May plantings - ~60d to harvest
• June plantings - ~55d to harvest

29. – Seeding
• 3-6 seeds/ft of row, 6-8” row spacing
• 1.5 – 2” depth
• 480,000 plants/ac
• Adequate, not excessive moisture
– Slight rolling is ok
– Fertilizer
• Fertilizer response difficult to predict because
of various influences
• N
– Rates should be dictated by soil testing
– Seeds should be inoculated at planting to ensure
adequate supply of N fixing bacteria

30. • P
– Should be banded w/ N, K
– Required for vigorous early growth
• K
– Apply and incorporate before planting, or band
– Don’t drill w/ the seed to prevent injury
• Weed Control
– Cultivate as often as necessary for small weeds
– Strive to eliminate chemical applications
• Insect Control
– Observe crop rotation recommendations
– Crop may be susceptible to armyworms, cutworms,
grasshoppers, loopers

31. • Disease Control
– Best management practices will reduce disease risk
» Crop rotation, fertility, soil selection, etc.
– Nematodes
– Use seed from reputable sources
– Blights, mildews, stem rot, root rot, etc.
• Harvesting, Handling, Storage
– Timing determined by tenderometer reading, weather,
soil conditions
– Yields increase w/ maturity, but decreases quality
– Harvested w/ machining process similar to a combine

32. – Storage
» Must be promptly cooled to ~32º & 90-95% humidity
» May use a hydrocooler to cool quickly, preferred
method
» Pack w/ ice after precooling to maintain freshness
» Don’t keep more than 3 wks under the best storage
conditions before canning or sale as fresh

33. • Forage Legumes
– Environmentally friendly, improve soil tilth,
reduce pesticide use, reduce soil erosion,
improve profitability for the producer, excellent
feed source
– Species Selection
• Target use should dictate selection
• See pg. 479 for legume forage recommendations

34. • Alfalfa
– Productive, even during summer, unless
extreme drought
– Can last 5+ yrs under proper mgmt
– Excellent quality forage
– Best Management considerations
• Timely cutting
• Control insects, diseases, weeds
• Replacement of nutrients removed by the forage

35. – Site Selection & Soil Fertility
• Prefers: deep, fertile, well-drained soils, pH 6.0-
6.5
• Mixing w/ orchard grass, etc. may help improve
and lengthen the stand
• Requires high fertility for stand establishment
– Especially P
– Soil test to determine needs
– Incorporate lime before seeding
– Resample soil after 2 yrs to check fertility
» Help to ensure stand longevity
» Topdress limestone

36. • P establishes vigorous stand, stimulates root
growth for summer drought resistance, quick
spring growth, etc.
• N, K needed in small amounts
– General needs at seeding:
» 20-30 lbs N
» 20-60 lbs K
– Incorporate for best effect
– Variety Selection
• Consistent high yields
• Moderate winter hardy
• Moderate to high disease resistence

37. – Establishment
• May be frost-seeded, broadcast, no-tilled, or drilled
– Frost-seed – Jan or Feb
» Allow freeze/thaw to work seed into soil
– No-till or drilled tends to produce a better stand
• Plant no deeper than ¼” for quick emergence
– Firm seedbed
» Key to establishing a good stand – especially in dry
yrs
• Broadcast seeding
– Firm the seedbed w/ a cultipacker or roller before & after
planting

38. – Companion Crop
• Can be fall-seeded w/ wheat, oats, etc.
• Broadcast during the winter
• Provides protection for the young, new crop
– Also competes for nutrients, light, etc.
• Usually expect 1 cutting of hay in late August, early
Sept when seeded w/ companion crop
– Seeding Rates & Mixtures
• Seeding alone
– 15lbs/ac of certified seed

39. • Mixed seeding w/ grass
– 10lbs/ac Bromegrass
– 6lbs/ac Orchard grass
– 10lbs/ac Tall Fescue
– 6lbs/ac Reed Canary Grass
– Decreases potential for heaving in the winter, reduces
weed competition, lessens damage to soil structure from
grazing, reduces bloat potential
– Maintaining Alfalfa Stands
• Annual fertility program & proper harvest
management will increase stand longevity &
production

40. • Initial seedings
– 15+ plants/sq ft
• As plants die, others increase in size to take up the
space
• Alfalfa-grass mixtures can maintain productivity
with only 2 alfalfa plants/sq ft
– Annual Fertilization
• May need: P, K, Boron, lime? to maintain a
vigorous stand
• Apply according to soil tests
• Single application after 1st cutting, or split
applications after 1st & 3rd cuttings

41. – Harvest Mgmt
• Stage of maturity determines hay quality
• Quality declines rapidly after flowering
• Should not be grazed/harvested from Sept – Nov 1
– Allows plant to store root reserves for overwintering
– After Nov 1 – may take another cutting or graze if soil is
well drained, or have a grass mixture
• 3-4 cuttings/yr at bloom stage – stand longevity =
6+ yrs
• 3-5 cuttings/yr at bud stage – stand longevity = 3-4
yrs

43. • Turn animals in at bud stage, graze to remove
most top growth in 6-10d
– Allow 30-35d for regrowth
– Use poloxalene blocks to prevent bloat
– Don’t turn hungry animals into the pasture
– Insects
• Alfalfa weevil
– Usually damages 1st cutting
– Scout for following infestations
– Spray when 25% of tips are skeletonized or cut early

44. • Potato Leafhopper
– Sucks juices from the plant
– Yellowing and decreasing plant nutrient content
– Damage may be significant before yellowing is apparent
• Scout regularly
– Weed Control
• Establish a uniform, dense stand
• Herbicide control depends on alfalfa growth, weed
growth, stage of development, etc.

45. – Diseases
• Phytophthora Root Rot, bacterial wilt, crown rot
• Choose resistant varieties
• Use crop rotation
• High quality seed
• Red Clover
– Short-lived perennial legume
– Hay, pasture, green manure crop
– Not as productive as alfalfa in the summer
– Easily established w/ no-till interseeding, or
frost-seeding

46. – Harvest 3-4x/yr for medium Red Clover
• Bird’s-Foot Trefoil
– Deep-rooted perennial legume
– Tolerant of lower pH’s, moderate to poor
drainage, marginal fertility, withstand flooding,
drought
– Somewhat difficult to establish
– Should be seeded w/ another crop
– Characteristics:
• Excellent quality forage

47. • Fair palatability
• Stores well
• Nonbloating
• Well-suited for grazing
• White Clover
– Low-growing, short-lived
– Well suited for pastures
– Improves forage quality of grass pastures
– Reduces need for N fertilizer
– Same seeding options as red clover

48. – Shallow rooted
• Doesn’t tolerate drought well
– Ladino clover
• More productive variety
• Annual Lespedeza
– Spring-sown, warm-season legume
– Hay, pasture, soil erosion control
– Relatively low yielding
– High quality nutritive value
– Excellent for pasture in the late summer

49. – Can persist well if allowed to reseed
• Managing Forages
– Seed Yr Management
• Establishing good stand critical for production
• Select proper species
• Use proper crop rotation to improve productivity,
reduce disease risk, insect problems
• Don’t reseed alfalfa after an alfalfa stand
– Produces a toxin that will reduce germination & growth

50. – Fertilization & Liming
• Essential for economic forage production
• Soil test before seeding for proper nutrient balance
– Test continually to maintain proper nutrient levels
– pH above 6.5
» Lime when pH is >.2-.3 less than recommended pH
– Seed Inoculation
• Inoculate w/ proper N fixing bacteria prior to
seeding to ensure good nodulation

51. • Especially important in fields that haven’t had
legumes
• Purchase proper inoculum for the forage
seeded
• Check expiration date on seed bag, reinoculate
if necessary
– Seed Treatment
• Highly recommended for control of root rots
• Helps stand establishment
– Spring Seedings
• Plant as soon as area can be prepared after
Mar 15

52. • Weed pressure may be a struggle
• Seeding w/out a companion crop may allow for 2-3
cuttings in the seeding yr
• Seeding w/ a companion crop will increase
tonnage the first yr, forage quality will be
decreased
– Manage the competition when seeding
– Use early-maturing, stiff-strawed varieties
– Sow at 1.5-2.0 bu/ac
– Remove small grains early as silage or pasture
– Don’t apply additional N to the companion crop

53. – Late Summer Seedings
• Excellent time for stand establishment if moisture
is sufficient
– Time to establish before winter
• August is preferred time
• Don’t use a companion crop
– Seeding Basics
• Smooth, firm, weed-free seedbeds
• Conserve moisture
• Seeding depth ¼ - ½”

55. Fabaceae
• Second most important family for humans
• A combination of grain and pulses is seen
in major civilization
– Barley and lentils; rice and soybeans; corn
and beans
• Fabaceae is diverse and has about 16,000
species
• Common features are the flowers and
fruits (a legume)

56. Fabaceae
• Three subfamilies
– Faboideae – main source of pulses (Dried
seeds)
– Caesalpinoidae – tamarind and carob
• Plants have root nodules
– increases the nutrients of the soil
– More protein in the fruits
– Non-protein amino acids (some toxic)
– Good rotation crop

57. Nutrients
• Protein: CHO: fat: fiber are 20:70:8:4
percent.
• Protein: lack Met and cysteine and some
sulfur containing amino acids
• CHO: raffinose and stachyose series.
Hard to digest, flactulence. Alpha –
galactosidase from Aspergillas.
• Fat has unsaturated fatty acids; hihgest in
peanuts

58. Nutrients
• Non-protein amino acids
• Some have anti-nutritional factor
• Protease inhibitor
• Isoflavone
• Dissolve fiber

59. Lentils
• Lens culinaris –Shape of eye lens. 25%
proteins, 60% CHO, less than 1% fat vit A
&B abd calcium
• Middle East between 8000-9000years ago
• Domesticated
• Has most digestible and most commonly
eaten pulse

60. Peas
• Pisum sativum
• Near East and Europe, 8000 – 9500 years
old but not sure whether grow or gathered.
• Brought ot New world by Columbus
• Eaten fresh
• Chinese snow peas has low fiber and
selected 17th century
• Sugar snap peas – recent 1979

61. Broad beans
• Vicia faba: mainly hog feed
• Middle East origin
• Favism: hemolytic anemia; due to
defective gene; glucose-6-phosphate
dehydrogenase; due to vicine that oxidizes
and degrades RBC

62. Chickpeas
• Cicer arietinum: forage has toxic proteins
• Near Eastern
• Do not like cool climates
• Quality and easily digestible proteins

63. Soy beans
• Glycine max: Native of China
• High is proteins sulfur containing ones
• Isoflavones: genestine; daizein
• Phytosterols
• Antivitamins; protease inhibitors;
cyanogens; saponins

64. Pigean peas
• Cajanus cajan

65. Black-eye peas
• Vigna unguiculata

66. Lima beans
• Phaseolus lunatas/limensis
• Lima; kidney or garden beans(P.vulgaris);
green or mung beans(P. aureus);
blackgram (P.mungo)

67. Peanuts
• Arachis hypogea: pedicles enter the
ground for fruit to mature
• Unique flowering and fruiting
• 45% oils; 20-25% proteins;
• South America – origin
• Mainly used as roasted seeds; peanut
butter and oil

68. Tamarind and carob
• Tamarindus indica
• Ceratonina siliqua

70. Successful pipeline must be carried out in partnership
with the end-user and use transdisciplinary approaches
in collaborations across academia, government, and the
private sector

71. Opportunities
• Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
• Specialty Crops Research Initiative
• Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative
• Interagency
– NIH
– NSF
– USAID-PEER
– BARD
– BBSRC
– Ireland and Northern Ireland

72. NIFA/NIH joint initiative:
“Food specific molecular profiles and
dietary biomarkers of dietary consumption”
• Colorado State University
– Address metabolite profiles in dry beans
• Goals
– Discover and validate molecular signatures of dietary
intake and long-term food consumption
– Develop a database of food-specific molecular signatures
– Inform policy and disseminate findings to industry
• Other NIFA investments
– BeanCAP, Hatch projects to support pulse research

73. Opportunities: Precision Foods
• Individual genome, epigenome, microbiome
• Plant/animal genome, epigenome, microbiome
• Wearable sensors
– FitBit, Apple Watch
– Athos, Hexoskin, Gymi
– Google contact lens
• Food analysis
• Lifestyle
• Behavior