How to grow broad beans to achieve high yield?

Broad beans are widely grown in China, both in the south and the north. Although it belongs to the leguminous crop, its management is different from beans , kidney beans , etc. To increase the yield of broad beans, the key lies in management, especially from pre-flowering to pod-setting stage, which is the most critical period. If managed properly, the yield will naturally not be low. Let’s learn together how to grow broad beans to achieve high yields.

1. Planting time

Broad beans are highly cold-resistant but not heat-resistant. They prefer a cool climate and can withstand temperatures as low as minus 5 degrees Celsius. They can also survive frost and snow. Broad beans germinate best in an environment of 15 to 20 degrees, and seedlings grow best in an environment of 10 to 15 degrees. Therefore, it is best to sow overwintering broad beans during the period from Cold Dew to Frost Descent to meet the suitable temperature requirements for seed germination and seedling growth. The latest sowing time should not exceed the beginning of winter. There is a folk proverb that goes "From Cold Dew to Frost Descent, broad beans are on the slopes", as well as a reminder that "If no broad bean leaves are seen in the Light Snow, the broad beans will never bloom until they grow old".

2. Add fertilizer in time

Broad beans require ample fertilizer during the flowering and pod-setting stages. Lack of fertilizer will lead to reduced flowering and pod setting, flowers will easily fall off, and the pods produced will be thin and short. Therefore, timely nutrient supplementation from flowering to pod setting is the key to achieving high yields. Broad beans have a special preference for nitrogen fertilizers. Experiments have shown that applying urea to the roots before flowering can increase the pod setting rate and grain weight. Fermented human feces, urine, bean cakes, etc. can also be used.

3. Foliar Fertilizer

In addition to root fertilization, broad beans also need foliar fertilizer from before flowering to podding stage, mainly trace elements. Boron fertilizer and molybdenum fertilizer are needed during the flowering and pod-setting period, which can reduce flower and pod drop, increase the number of pods, and significantly increase yield. If these trace elements are lacking, especially in bad weather conditions, flower and pod drop will be serious. Therefore, starting from the appearance of flower buds, you can use boron molybdenum or ammonium molybdate for spraying, or you can mix it with potassium dihydrogen phosphate and spray it once a week to 10 days, for a total of 3 times.

4. Timely pruning and topping

Timely topping of broad beans can promote more flowers to open and pod to form. If broad beans are allowed to grow freely, it will not only affect ventilation and light transmission, but also compete for nutrients. After topping, nutrients will be concentrated on flowering and pod setting. Topping should be done when the lower part of the broad bean plant is pod-forming and the middle and upper parts are blooming profusely, usually 25-30 days after flowering. If the broad beans are weak and lack nutrients and water, it is not advisable to top them. In addition, due to the strong branching ability of broad beans, thin branches, diseased branches and overly dense branches should be cut off to avoid field closure.

5. Water appropriately

From the flowering to the podding stage of broad beans, the soil should be neither too dry nor too wet. After the flower buds appear, water shortage or waterlogging in the soil can easily lead to falling flowers and pods and unfilled grains. Therefore, the soil should be kept moist and watered in time when necessary. In case of continuous rainy weather, drainage and waterlogging prevention should be done to avoid waterlogging in the soil.

6. Do a good job in disease and insect pest prevention and control

Common diseases and pests of broad beans include aphids, rust, and red spot. Aphids can be controlled with imidacloprid, rust spot can be controlled with fenacet-butyl or fenacet-butyl, and red spot can be controlled with mancozeb . At the same time, mature pods should be picked in time to avoid picking them too late and causing the taste to deteriorate.

The above points are the key points of management of broad beans from flowering to podding. Each point cannot be ignored and can be flexibly grasped according to the growth of the plant.