Faba beans and field peas are the major pulse crops widely produced in North Shoa, Ethiopia. Despite these crops being widely grown in the northern parts of the country over a wide range of altitudes, the distribution, infestation, and damage level of the major insect that affects these crops have not been well studied. Therefore, the current study was conducted with the objective of assessing the distribution, infestation, and damaging level of major insects on faba bean and field pea crops in the North Shewa Zone, Ethiopia, during the 2022 and 2023 main cropping seasons. The survey was conducted in five selected districts: GirarJarso, Dagam, DebreLibanos, Wachale, and Jida. A total of 180 fields were randomly sampled across 30 Kebeles within these districts. The study utilized a purposive multistage sampling method, and data were collected using various sampling patterns, including ―X‖, ‖U‖, ‖ W, ‖ and ―Z‖ formations, with 1m² quadrants placed at intervals. The results revealed that significant variation (p < 0.05) in insect infestation and damage levels across the surveyed districts and insects identified. Insects recorded during this survey identified several major insect pests, including pod borer (Marucavitrata), caterpillar (Catopsiliapyranthi), flea beetle (Scelodontastrigicollis), and African bollworm (Helicoverpaarmigera) in faba bean crops, and pod borer (Marucavitrata), caterpillar (Catopsiliapyranthi), flea beetle (Scelodontastrigicollis), and aphids (Aphis craccivora) in field pea crops. Infestation levels varied across districts, with the highest infestation for faba beans recorded in Girar Jarso (30.5%) for leaf beetles and for field peas in Jida (40%) for pod borers. Damage levels ranged from 0% to 26% for faba beans and from 0% to 29% for field peas, with significant regional variations. The results highlight the economic importance of these pests, which require urgent attention through integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. The study emphasizes the need for timely and effective pest control measures to mitigate the damage to pulse crops in the North Shewa, Oromia, Ethiopia.

Determination of chemical composition and metabolizable energy of chickpea, faba bean, field pea, lentil and lupin compared to soybean meal for broiler chickens.

The relationship between maturity stage and forage yield and quality of field pea (Pisum sativum ssp. Arvense)

Potential of field peas and faba beans as protein-rich alternatives for partial or full replacement of soybean meal in broiler chicken diets

Despite the increasing demand for plant-based foods thathas renewedinterest in pulses as functional ingredients, limited studies havecompared the compositional variability among commercial chickpea andfield pea cultivars. This study compared the compositional variabilityof 12 field pea and 11 chickpea cultivars cultivated under identicalconditions in Northwest Italy. Comprehensive nutritional and phytochemicalprofiles, including macronutrients, carotenoids, phenolics, flavonoids,and antioxidant activities, were assessed. Among field peas, the Bluemooncv showed the highest starch content (57.5 g 100–1 g d.w.), supporting its suitability for extrusion-based products,while Angelus exhibited the highest phenolic content (154.2 mg kg–1 d.w.) and antioxidant activity. In chickpeas, thedesi cv Nero stood out for its elevated dietary fiber (21.5 g 100g–1 d.w.), phenolics (37.2 mg kg–1 d.w.), and antioxidant capacity. These findings highlight the cultivarselection value to improve the nutritional and functional propertiesof pulse-based foods and support sustainable innovation in food-productdevelopment.

ABSTRACT Legume root nodules host symbiotic rhizobia that are essential for nitrogen fixation but also harbor diverse non‐rhizobial taxa that remain poorly characterized. Field pea ( Pisum sativum ) cultivars adapted to distinct seasonal growth (spring and winter) offer an opportunity to explore whether host genotype influences nodule‐associated bacterial composition and function. This study investigates the taxonomic and functional profiles of nodule bacterial communities in seasonal field pea varieties. A field experiment with 6 field pea cultivars (three spring and three winter types) was conducted in South Dakota. Surface‐sterilized root nodules were subjected to full‐length 16S rRNA gene sequencing using Oxford Nanopore technology. Reads were quality filtered, organellar sequences removed, and taxonomic classification performed with the Emu pipeline. Microbial diversity, community structure, and core taxa were analyzed using R, with predicted functions inferred by FAPROTAX. The nodule bacterial community was dominated by Rhizobium , accounting for up to 98% of classified reads. After excluding Rhizobium , non‐rhizobial diversity revealed a conserved core microbiome shared across cultivars, including cyanobacteria with potential phototrophic and diazotrophic traits. Minor seasonal differences were observed, with winter cultivars exhibiting higher evenness and specific associations. Field pea nodules harbor a stable, cyanobacteria‐enriched core microbiome, largely consistent across seasonal cultivars. Season‐specific microbial patterns suggest potential host‐genotype influences, warranting further validation.

Abstract This investigation presents the first documented occurrence of Fusarium humuli as a causal agent of decay of root in field pea ( Vigna unguiculata L.) under field conditions.The pathogen fungus markedly depressed the main physiological and biochemical properties, such as chlorophyll content, plant height, weight of dry root, seed protein content, and 100-seed weight, suggestingsevere inhibition in nutrientuptake and metabolic. Such as inoculation with Bradyrhizobium manausense , molybdenum supplementation, and foliar spray with Urtica dioica extract—separately and within their interaction. The application of B. manausense and molybdenum always positively influenced all traits measured, presenting special effects over the protein (24.77%) and seed weight (43.94 g) contents, and exceeding the control and other treatments. These enhancements are attributed to improved nitrogen fixation and enzymatic activation via nitrogenase and nitrate reductase pathways. Intermediate improvements were observed in treatments involving U. dioica extract and B. manausense alone, whereas F. humuli significantly reduced performance across all parameters. The results underscore the potential of integrating rhizobial inoculants with trace elements and plant-based biostimulants in sustainable disease management and productivity enhancement of cowpea.

Impact of mulching as a weed management practice on field pea productivity in irrigated systems

Microbial polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis from field pea starch hydrolysate

The selection of stable, high-yielding pea genotypes is crucial for sustaining production under changing climate conditions. Twenty multi-environment trials (10 locations x 2 years) were conducted to evaluate 11 genotypes during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 growing seasons in southern China. The Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) pooled analysis revealed that environmental effects accounted for the largest proportion of total variation (59.62%), followed by genotype-by-environment interaction (GEI) at 30.11%. The factor analysis revealed that plant height, first pod height, number of nodes on the main stem, number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod, and number of nodes containing pods were the best multi-traits that significantly contributed to high yields. Cluster analysis identified five superior genotypes - Jingwan 8, Yuwan 6, Yunwan 116, 20205, and Suwan 8, with Yunwan 116 also showing disease resistance. The genotype main effects plus GEI (GGE) biplot identified Kunming and Xinxiang locations as the most effective environments for differentiating the genotypes, and Jingwan 8 as the ideal genotype for high yield and stability, particularly in these locations. Further, Yuwan 6 and 20205 also showed wide adaptability across environments. Jingwan 8, Yuwan 6, and 20205 pea genotypes are recommended for large-scale cultivation due to their high yield and broad adaptability.

Mixed cropping may positively affect soil fertility and soil biological activities, such as those related to mycorrhizal colonization intensity (M%), which plays a vital role in the plant nutrient cycle and can improve tolerance to drought and pathogens. This plant and soil fungi symbiosis helps to reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers, promotes sustainable agricultural practices, and minimizes environmental impacts. However, field studies that clearly assess the effects of cereal/legume intercropping on mycorrhizal intensity and relate it to plant productivity, yield quality, and plant adaptation to climate change are lacking. This field experiment was conducted to assess the effects of cereals/legume intercropping on mycorrhizal colonization, and to explore its interaction with physical cereal root parameters and crop yield. Three main crops, spring barley, oat, and field pea, were grown as monocultures. For the spring barley and oat, the study also included two different fertilization levels (with and without organic fertilizers) and legume intercropping (field pea and red clover). The intercropping had a significant impact on spring barley and oat root length, diameter, and specific root length. The general average of root length and diameter was higher in oat-pea and barley-pea cropping systems. The most significant effect in root architecture parameters observed in red clover was when it was intercropped with barley or oat. The establishment of field pea intercrop significantly increased M% in spring barley and had a positive effect on the grain yields of both spring barley and oat. Meanwhile, red clover intercropping enhanced M% and grain yield in oats but had no such effect in barley. In both spring barley and oat, M% was positively correlated with grain yield.

Management of field pea powdery mildew using fungicides and host resistance in North Shewa, central highlands of Ethiopia

Heat stress is one of the main factors that restrict crop production and field pea (Pisum sativum L.) is one of the most affected crops. A temperature beyond the optimum for the crop causes irreversible damage to the growth and whole plant development. The objective of this study was to assess the different exogenous chemicals in terms of their effectiveness in counteracting high-temperature stress in field pea. A field trial was held during the rabi seasons of 2023-24 and 2024-25 at the Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur. The experimental design adopted was randomized block design with twelve treatments and three replications. The results showed that salicylic acid foliar application (400 ppm) significantly increased the plant height, reduced the days to 50 % flowering, and days to maturity under high temperature stress conditions. Salicylic acid and thiourea, in general, enhanced plant growth and productivity due to enhanced antioxidant defense mechanism. Thus, the foliar application of these types of exogenous chemicals could be a practical and highly effective method to reduce heat stress and maintain the production of field peas even in conditions of increasing temperatures.

Field pea is a significant pulse crop globally, with one-third of the global population relying on it as a staple food. Nonetheless, due to shifting climate conditions and the occurrence of elevated temperatures, heat stress has emerged as a significant factor restraining its productivity. Therefore, the current research was carried out with the aim of formulating an effective approach to address heat stress. The field trial took place during rabi 2023-24 and rabi 2024-25 in the Department of Seed Science and Technology at Chandra Sekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur. 12 different Chemicals were used for the present study. Heat stress was found to have a significant influence on the seed quality parameters. Germination percentage and Vigour Index I (VG I), 100 seed weight, seedling length, seedling dry weight reduced significantly under late sown condition. Similar trend was observed for Vigour Index II. (VG II) Foliar sprays with different chemicals viz. Salicylic acid (400ppm), Thiourea (400ppm), Salicylic acid (800ppm), Thiourea (200ppm), Ascorbic acid (10ppm), KCL (1%) were carried out at vegetative (booting stage) and Anthesis stage. Seeds harvested from heat stressed environment showed a significant increase seed quality parameters when sprayed with various foliar sprays. The findings also indicated that spraying salicylic acid at 400ppm and Thiourea at 400ppm effectively enhances multiple seed quality attributes such as 100 seed weight, germination rate, and seedling height (cm). The germination of seeds and VG I and II also displayed upward trends. The use of thiourea notably increased soluble sugars and proline levels in leaves, likely preserving a longer duration of green area with elevated leaf chlorophyll, which ultimately improves seed quality traits and may enhance heat tolerance. Therefore, all foliar applications successfully alleviated heat stress effects; however, salicylic acid at 400ppm and Thiourea at 400ppm were identified as the most effective.

Plastic mulch is widely used in organic strawberry production but raises sustainability concerns due to its persistence, disposal challenges, and contribution to microplastic pollution. This study evaluated the potential of high-residue cover crops and living mulches as alternatives to plastic mulch in coastal California. Over two seasons (2022–2024), we compared five mulching treatments: black polyethylene mulch (Plastic); a white clover (Trifolium repens) living mulch (Clover); two roller-crimped sorghum–sudangrass and field pea mixtures (Sorghum 1, Sorghum 2); and a roller-crimped buckwheat–pea mixture (Buckwheat). The objectives were to evaluate the effectiveness of these treatments on (i) soil properties and biological indicators, (ii) weed suppression, and (iii) strawberry yield in organic systems. A schematic timeline was developed to depict cover-crop growth, termination, and strawberry production across both years. Compost (10 t·ha−1) and fish emulsion (5–1–1 NPK, 4 L·ha−1 biweekly) were applied to all treatments during fruiting. Sorghum residues produced the highest biomass (up to 23 t·ha−1) and supported yields comparable to plastic mulch in 2023. Under lower-yield conditions in 2024, sorghum-based treatments outperformed plastic. Soil responses were modest and time-point specific: Sorghum 1 showed higher organic C and organic N pre-harvest in 2023, and both sorghum treatments increased soil organic matter pre-harvest in 2024. Biological indicators such as CO2–C and microbially active carbon declined seasonally across all treatments, indicating strong temporal control. Weed outcomes diverged by system—Clover suppressed weeds effectively but reduced yield by >50% due to competition, while Buckwheat decomposed rapidly and provided limited late-season suppression. These results demonstrate that rolled high-residue cover crops, particularly sorghum-based systems, can reduce dependence on plastic mulch while maintaining yields and enhancing soil cover. Living mulches and short-lived covers may complement residue systems when managed to minimize competition and extend ground cover.

Isolation and biochemical characterization of Indigenous rhizobia from root nodules of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) and assessment of their bio-inoculants potential on the growth of Bursa variety in Tigray, Ethiopia

The effects of inclusion level of an extruded flaxseed-pea supplement on nitrogen balance and flow of amino and fatty acids in a dual-flow continuous culture system.

Influence of thermo-oxidatively aged mulch debris on the seedling emergence of field pea (Pisum sativum var. arvense L.) seeds.

Quinolizidine alkaloids, found particularly in leguminous plants (Fabaceae), are known for their role in plant protection, acting as toxic secondary metabolites against pests and pathogens. However, their toxicity also makes them anti-nutritional factors in food and feed. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor their presence. The aim of this study is to optimise two stages of the research procedure, i.e., (1) the conditions of LC–MS/MS instrumental analysis for the simultaneous determination of five alkaloids: angustifolin, hydroxylupanine, sparteine, and two geometric isomers of lupanine and isolupanine, and (2) the extraction and isolation stage of six different leguminous matrices: field beans, peas, lupins (narrow-leaved, white, yellow) and lentils. The modified and validated QuEChERS method based on LC-MS/MS shows acceptable recoveries (71–115%) with relative standard deviation <15%. A slight matrix effect (−20–14%) was observed. The uncertainty of the method <28%. The developed method shows significant progress in terms of sensitivity, achieving a detection limit as low as 0.01 mg/kg. This is a significant improvement over existing analytical methods and highlights the great potential of this method for detecting trace amounts. The innovative, sensitive, and selective method, offering simplicity and speed, was applied to the analysis of real leguminous samples.

High-Yielding and Unique Field Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Genotype with an Open Raphe: Impact on Seed Water Uptake and Germination