Legume Production Research Articles

The Changing Landscape of Legume Products Available in Australian Supermarkets.

Evidence supports regular dietary inclusion of legumes due to their positive effects on both human and planetary health. Intake within Australia is suboptimal, with consumer data suggesting that an inability to integrate legumes into usual dietary patterns is a barrier to consumption. This places the food industry in a unique position to offer Australians the ability to incorporate legumes into usual dietary patterns via innovative new products. The aim of this study was to explore the legume category and compare nutrition product data and the use of nutrition and health claims between 2019 and 2021. An audit of legume products from four major metropolitan Sydney supermarkets (Aldi, Coles, IGA, Woolworths) collected ingredient lists, nutrition information and on-pack claims for baked beans, legume dips, legume flours, legume snacks (including subcategories of legume chips and whole legume snacks), canned legumes, dried legumes, frozen legumes, and pulse pasta. The total number of legume products available on the market nearly doubled from 2019 (n = 312) to 2021 (n = 610); this was driven by traditional plain canned and dried legumes and some new and convenient options, particularly snacks (legume chips) where the largest growth occurred. Of all legume products (n = 610), 82% met the Nutrient Profiling Scoring Criteria, 86.8% were at least a source of dietary fibre, and 55.9% were at least a source of protein. Nutrition content claims relating to dietary fibre, gluten free and protein more than doubled since 2019, with each featuring on over one third of the products identified in 2021. Vegan/vegetarian on-pack claims more than doubled since 2019, and claims related to the term plant-based/plant protein and environmental sustainability emerged on packs in 2021. By addressing barriers to consumption, such as lack of time and knowledge on how to prepare legumes, innovative legume products may help influence future consumption patterns.

Influence of Different Irrigation Strategies on Yield and Water Use of Dry Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Semi-Arid Zone

Increasing population and challenges among the sectors due to the climate change and incorrect water policy has increased the pressure on water resources. This situation being as a global crisis particularly in respect to the food security has accelerated productive utilization of water supplies. The aim of the current study with 2-year experiments was to identify the effect of different irrigation interval and irrigation regimes on the yield and yield components of dry bean having greater than 50% of total world legumes production. In that experiment, two different irrigation interval, 7 and 14-day, and three different irrigation levels, (I100, I75 and I50, were studied. 
 In results, the maximum yield was obtained from 7-day irrigation interval, and 28% yield reduction was detected at 14-day irrigation interval. In examine the irrigation levels, the highest yield was found at full irrigation (I100), and increasing water stress caused significant yield reductions e.g. 21% and 49% for I75 and I50, respectively. The evapotranspiration and total applied water as an average of 2013-2014 were calculated as 533 mm, and 450 mm, respectively. In assessment of the both the combine year results, the ky value was determined as 1.59, and this finding shows that dry bean crop is sensitive to the water stress condition.

Climate change impacts and adaptation for dryland farming systems in Zimbabwe: a stakeholder-driven integrated multi-model assessment

Decision makers need accurate information to address climate variability and change and accelerate transformation to sustainability. A stakeholder-driven, science-based multi-model approach has been developed and used by the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP) to generate actionable information for adaptation planning processes. For a range of mid-century climate projections—likely to be hotter, drier, and more variable—contrasting future socio-economic scenarios (Representative Agricultural Pathways, RAPs) were co-developed with stakeholders to portray a sustainable development scenario and a rapid economic growth pathway. The unique characteristic of this application is the integration of a multi-modeling approach with stakeholder engagement to co-develop scenarios and adaptation strategies. Distribution of outcomes were simulated with climate, crop, livestock, and economic impact assessment models for smallholder crop livestock farmers in a typical dryland agro-ecological zone in Zimbabwe, characterized by low and erratic rainfall and nutrient depleted soils. Results showed that in Nkayi District, Western Zimbabwe, climate change would threaten most of the farms, and, in particular, those with large cattle herds due to feed shortages. Adaptation strategies that showed the most promise included diversification using legume production, soil fertility improvement, and investment in conducive market environments. The switch to more legumes in the farming systems reduced the vulnerability of the very poor as well as the more resourced farmers. Overall, the sustainable development scenario consistently addressed institutional failures and motivated productivity-enhancing, environmentally sound technologies and inclusive development approaches. This yielded more favorable outcomes than investment in quick economic wins from commercializing agriculture.

Non-Soy Legumes as Alternative Raw Ingredient for Tempe Production in Indonesia with Additional Health Benefits: a Review

The availability of legumes in Indonesia is abundant. Many of them show great potential as an alternative ingredient to suppress the deficiency of nutrient intake. However, the utilization needs to be improved. The aim of this review is to evaluate the potential of selected non-soy legumes which are jack bean, mung bean, red kidney bean, and cowpea based on some consideration such as productivity and their potential to be used as raw ingredient for tempe production related to the nutrient content and functional properties. Despite of the high production of non-soy legumes, the utilization is still considerably low. Several researches stated that non-soy legume shows a great nutrient profile and good functionalities after being processed into tempe. Nutrient content of jack bean, mung bean, red kidney bean, and cowpea were improved due to the removal of antinutrients by the processes involved in tempe production. It shows a similarity and comparability to nutrient content of soybean tempe and even shows better functionality

Field applications of gypsum reduce pH and improve soil C in highly alkaline soils in southern Australia’s dryland cropping region

AbstractHighly alkaline soils are widespread throughout south‐eastern Australia. High pH limits the accumulation and retention of organic carbon (C), and thus the availability of nutrients to crops and is also associated with various elemental deficiencies and toxicities that restrict crop productivity. Applying gypsum and increasing legume production reduce pH and improve soil chemical and physical properties in alkaline, sodic soils, but this strategy has not been explored in alkaline soils in the region where many of the topsoils are non‐sodic. Five short‐term rotation experiments were conducted to examine the potential to reduce pH, improve soil organic C and increase crop production. In the first year, three legumes—field peas (Pisum sativum), vetch (Vicia sativa) and a medic pasture (Medicago spp.)—were grown at low or high inputs of seed and fertilizer and with three rates of gypsum (0, 2.5 t/ha and 5.0 t/ha). In the following seasons, wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare) were grown. Using high sowing and fertilizer rates to increase legume biomass had little effect on soil properties; however, applying gypsum consistently resulted in a lower soil pH and dissolved organic C and higher organic C compared with the unamended control to a depth of 0.20–0.30 m. The largest difference occurred with 2.5 t gypsum/ha with little further change at 5 t/ha. Gypsum significantly increased biomass and grain yield at sites with low concentrations of calcium carbonate. Low rates of gypsum may be effective in reducing pH, maintaining soil organic C and improving crop production in regions with alkaline soils low in calcium carbonate.

Productivity of long-term bean grass in single-species and compatible with anwless bromegrass feed agrophytocenoses

Goal. Establish the best perennial legumes when grown in single-species and compatible fodder agrocenoses with stokolos boneless and the effectiveness of the use of nitrogen-fixing and phosphorus-mobilizing bacterial preparations, as well as liming. Methods. General scientific − hypotheses, inductions and deductions, analogies, generalizations and special − field, laboratory, mathematical and statistical, computational and comparative. Results. Based on the generalization of literature sources, it is proved that the creation of sown grasslands, with high content of perennial legumes on meadows and arable lands, which are derived from intensive cultivation is one of the most promising areas of organic onion growing. Productivity of single-species crops of perennial legumes and their mixtures with boneless stalk on average for five years after the yield of 1 ha of dry mass in the version without fertilizers ranged from 5.12 to 8.38 tons, which is 1.7−2.5 times more in comparison with a grassy grass stand which is formed from one-species crops of a stokolos of a boneless. The highest productivity and level of symbiotic nitrogen accumulation (191−266 kg / ha) were provided by agrocenoses with the participation of alfalfa, and the lowest - meadow clover. The efficiency of soil liming during sowing of grasses and application of inoculation of seeds of perennial legumes with nitrogen-fixing and phosphorus-mobilizing preparations is given. Changes in the chemical composition of feed under the influence of the studied factors are also shown. Conclusions. Different types of perennial legumes and their mixtures with boneless stalk without fertilizers provide productivity in the range of 5.12−8.38 t / ha of dry weight, which is 1.7−2.5 times more than the grass cover, which is formed from single-species sowing of stokolos bezzostoy. Inoculation of perennial legume seeds with nitrogen-fixing and phosphorus-releasing microbiological preparations increases the productivity of perennial legumes and their mixtures with cereals by 2−6%, and soil liming before sowing – by 3−11%. The greatest effect is provided by the combined use of these bacterial drugs. Alfalfa sowing responds best to their use and liming.

Legumes as a Cornerstone of the Transition Toward More Sustainable Agri-Food Systems and Diets in Europe

Legume grains are important sources of nutrients in human and animal diets and have been so for millennia. Their history as part of traditional diets dates to the origins of agriculture when their benefits for soil health and agricultural productivity started to be realized, mostly empirically, by farmers. In time, legumes have lost their popularity as human food, either because of a negative connotation as “poor man's meat,” occasional gastrointestinal side effects, or habitually longer preparation times when compared to other types of plant foods. Also, the steep rise in the consumption of meat derived foods in the last half of a century has taken a toll on replacing legumes as a major protein source. Alongside this negative trend in consumption, a negative drift in production was also observed, especially in Europe, where legumes currently occupy a minimal fraction of agricultural land. One of the main factors is a loss in competitive edge amongst farmers due to sustained lower public and private investments in breeding programs and legume adapted technology for planting, managing, harvesting, processing, and storing, when compared to cereals. Recently, increased awareness of the need to move to sustainable food systems is revitalizing legume production and consumption in Europe, leading to a compilation of policies and initiatives that aim to put legumes again as foundations for this transition. Legumes have been reinvented in a multitude of products (drinks, cereal bars, bread, meat replacers, snacks, flours, and several others) and included in farming systems of conservation agriculture, organic production, intercropping, and crop rotation, combining ancient traditions of legume production “with a spin,” incorporating new legume technological knowledge in farming systems. However, the transition has been slow and hampered by many cultural, societal, political, and economic impediments. This paper summarizes initiatives that aim to enable the comeback of legumes and their placement in a more prominent position in human diets and agricultural fields and highlights strategies that aim at overcoming the obstacles that impede achieving the development of more sustainable agri-food systems and sustainable diets in Europe.

Productivity and competitive ability of rabi maize and legumes intercropping system

The intercropping system involves two or more crops coexist for some period of their cycles and ensure multifaceted benefits. As maize is a widely spaced crop, it offers enough scope for adoption of intercropping and legumes are known as good companions in intercropping. Considering the facts, an experiment was carried out at Bagusala Farm of Centurion University of Technology and Management on intercropping maize (Zea mays L.) with legumes, namely, groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and green gram (Vigna radiata L.). Paired row maize was sown during first week of January 2020 and in between two pairs of maize rows, one, two and three rows of groundnut and green gram seeds were sown. The results revealed that the grain and straw yields of maize were not influenced significantly by intercropping system. However, total biomass yield was differed among the treatments and maize + groundnut (2: 3) produced maximum biomass yield and it was closely followed by maize + groundnut (2: 2) and maize + green gram (2: 3). The land equivalent ratio (LER) clearly showed advantages of intercropping and maximum LER was obtained with maize + groundnut (2: 1) and it was followed by maize + green gram (2: 3). But maximum area time equivalent ratio (ATER) was noted with maize + groundnut (2: 3). Aggressivity values indicated that maize was more aggressive compared to legumes. Maize equivalent yield (MEY) was maximum with maize + groundnut (2: 3) and it was followed by maize + groundnut (2: 2). The results suggest that intercropping of maize + groundnut either in 2: 2 or 2: 3 proportions can be adopted under south Odisha conditions for greater productivity than pure stand of maize.

​Effect of Nutrients on Wilt in Chickpea

Background: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) contributes 18% of the global production of grain legume and serves as an important source of dietary protein. Fusarium wilt, caused by soil borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri appears to be the most devastating diseases of chickpea throughout the world. It is one of the important limiting factors of chickpea production in India. The disease causes substantial yield losses which may reach even 100 per cent under favorable weather conditions. Methods: Pot culture experiments were conducted at Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Durgapura, Jaipur during rabi 2014-15 and 2015-16 to study the effect of nutrients on wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri (Padwick) in chickpea (Cicer arirtinum). In the first experiment, the treatments comprised of four nitrogen levels-viz. 0, 15, 20 and 25 kg/ha and four phosphorus levels- viz. 0, 30, 40 and 50 kg/ha tried in sixteen treatment combinations. Surface sterilized seeds of chickpea cultivar L-550 were sown in each pot. After sowing, 400 ml water was supplied to each pot; there after watering was done at an interval of 6 days. In second experiment, the treatments comprised of 7 micronutrients viz. zinc, manganese, calcium, copper, cobalt, iron and nickel used at the rate of 10mg/kg of soil. Chickpea cultivar L-550 was used as a test crop. Result: Disease incidence was recorded periodically commencing 15 days after sowing and was continued up to 55 days after sowing. Levels of nitrogen application had increased wilt incidence successively in both the years. Whereas, a reverse trend was observed with the application of phosphorus, incidence of wilt was decreased with increasing levels of phosphorus. Application of zinc and calcium reduced the wilt incidence significantly over check. Zinc was found to be most effective in minimizing the disease incidence.

Forecasting of agricultural production volumes using methods of data mining

In this article, the future values of indicators were forecasted for production of grains and legumes on farms in Cherkasy region based on the time series expressed in physical units. Time series analysis as one of the data mining techniques was used during the research in order to make a forecast of production using the data (based on the model of dynamic series) from past years to predict the future production volumes. This method contains the following steps: a graphical analysis (allows you to choose the model equation in the best way), separation and analysis of deterministic components of the series, smoothing and filtering of time series, study of random components, construction and testing for the adequacy of the time series model, forecasting the behavior of the time series based on the conducted research.

An Annotated List of Legume-Infecting Viruses in the Light of Metagenomics.

Legumes, one of the most important sources of human food and animal feed, are known to be susceptible to a plethora of plant viruses. Many of these viruses cause diseases which severely impact legume production worldwide. The causal agents of some important virus-like diseases remain unknown. In recent years, high-throughput sequencing technologies have enabled us to identify many new viruses in various crops, including legumes. This review aims to present an updated list of legume-infecting viruses. Until 2020, a total of 168 plant viruses belonging to 39 genera and 16 families, officially recognized by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), were reported to naturally infect common bean, cowpea, chickpea, faba-bean, groundnut, lentil, peas, alfalfa, clovers, and/or annual medics. Several novel legume viruses are still pending approval by ICTV. The epidemiology of many of the legume viruses are of specific interest due to their seed-transmission and their dynamic spread by insect-vectors. In this review, major aspects of legume virus epidemiology and integrated control approaches are also summarized.

Policy Interventions Promoting Sustainable Food- and Feed-Systems: A Delphi Study of Legume Production and Consumption

The food- and feed-value systems in the European Union are not protein self-sufficient. Despite the potential of legume-supported production systems to reduce the externalities caused by current cultivation practices (excessive use of N fertilizer) and improve the sustainability of the arable cropping systems and the quality of human diets, sufficient production of high-protein legume grains in Europe has not been achieved due to multiple barriers. Identifying the barriers to the production and consumption of legumes is the first step in realizing new pathways towards more sustainable food systems of which legumes are integral part. In this study, we engage stakeholders and decision-makers in a structured communication process, the Delphi method, to identify policy interventions leveraging barriers that hinder the production and consumption of legumes in the EU. This study is one of a kind and uses a systematic method to reach a common understanding of the policy incoherencies across sectors. Through this method we identify policy interventions that may promote the production of legumes and the creation of legume-based products in the EU. Policies that encourage reduced use of inorganic N fertilizer represent an important step toward a shift in the increased cultivation of legumes. Relatedly, investment in R&D, extension services, and knowledge transfer is necessary to support a smooth transition from the heavy use of synthetic N fertilizer in conventional agriculture. These policy interventions are discussed within current EU and national plant-protein strategies.

Genetic transformation of legumes: an update.

This review summarizes the recent advances in legume genetic transformation and provides an insight into the critical factors that play a major role in the process. It also sheds light on some of the potential areas which may ameliorate the transformation of legumes. Legumes are an important group of dicotyledonous plants, highly enriched in proteins and minerals. Majority of the legume plants are cultivated in the arid and semi-arid parts of the world, and hence said to be climate resilient. They have the capability of atmospheric nitrogen fixation and thus play a vital role in the ecological sphere. However, the worldwide production of legumes is somehow not up to the mark and the yields are greatly affected by various biotic and abiotic stress factors. Genetic engineering strategies have emerged as a core of plant biology and remarkably facilitate the crop improvement programmes. A significant progress has been made towards the optimization of efficient transformation system for legume plants over the years but this group is still underutilized in comparison to other crops. Among the variety of available DNA delivery systems, Agrobacterium-mediated and particle bombardment have been primarily deployed for optimization and trait improvement. However, recalcitrance and genotype-dependence are some of the major bottlenecks for successful transformation. In this context, the present review summarizes the advances taken place in the area of legume transformation and provides an insight into the present scenario. The challenges and future possibilities for yield improvement have also been discussed.

Legume dreams: The contested futures of sustainable plant-based food systems in Europe

With the intensification of agriculture, the simplification of crop rotations, and the rise in demand for meat, dairy and cereal products, legume production and consumption are at an historic low in Europe. But as the environmental consequences of agriculture (biodiversity loss, high greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution) and the health outcomes of modern diets (heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity) become better known, so great and varied hopes are being expressed about the future role of legumes in the food system. This paper catalogues and scrutinises these hopes, mapping the promissory narratives now orbiting around legumes. It identifies six food futures, each of which is made possible through the greater use of legumes in various production, processing, marketing and consumption contexts. These promissory narratives are theorised as contrasting responses to three major areas of contestation in the food systems literature. Namely i) the sustainability of livestock management, ii) the role of technology in different visions of the ‘good diet’, and iii) the merits of different models for how to make agricultural management more sustainable. It identifies the promiscuity of legumes – in terms of the range of food futures they permit – before distilling three points of consensus amongst advocates of the potential of legumes. These points of consensus relate to their nitrogen fixing capacity, their high protein content, and their long-standing historical role in the context of European food and farming. This map of legume dreams serves to guide deliberations amongst researchers, policymakers and industry stakeholders about the futures of plant-based food in Europe.

Functional and genetic diversity of native rhizobial isolates nodulating cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) in Mozambican soils

Identification and symbiotic characterization of indigenous rhizobial isolates are the basis for inoculant formulations needed for sustainable grain legume production. This study screened for morpho-genetic diversity of indigenous cowpea nodulating rhizobia in farmers’ fields across two contrasting agroecological zones of Northern Mozambique. The photosynthetic function induced by the isolates in their homologous cowpea was assessed. The results showed high genetic variability among the isolates based on morphology and ERIC-PCR fingerprinting. The trap cowpea genotype did not influence the diversity of isolates collected from the two different agroecologies, suggesting that the cowpea-rhizobia compatibility may be conserved at species level. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene assigned representative rhizobial isolates to species in the Bradyrhizobium and Rhizobium genera, with some isolates showing high divergence from the known reference type strains. The isolates from both agroecologies highly varied in the number and biomass of nodules induced in the homologous cowpea, resulting in variable plant growth and photosynthetic activities. A total of 72% and 83% of the isolates collected from the agroecological zones 7 and 8 were respectively classified as highly effective candidates with > 80% relative effectiveness compared to plants fertilized with nitrate, indicating that elite native strains populated the studied soils. Moreover, the top 25% of high N2-fixing isolates from the two agroecologies recorded relative effectiveness ranging from 115 to 154%, values higher than the effectiveness induced by the commercial Bradyrhizobium sp. strain CB756. These strains are considered as having potential for use in inoculant formulations. However, future studies should be done to assess the ecologically adaptive traits and symbiotic performance under field conditions.

Rhizobial-Host Interactions and Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in Legume Crops Toward Agriculture Sustainability.

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) process makes legume crops self-sufficient in nitrogen (N) in sharp contrast to cereal crops that require an external input by N-fertilizers. Since the latter process in cereal crops results in a huge quantity of greenhouse gas emission, the legume production systems are considered efficient and important for sustainable agriculture and climate preservation. Despite benefits of SNF, and the fact that chemical N-fertilizers cause N-pollution of the ecosystems, the focus on improving SNF efficiency in legumes did not become a breeder’s priority. The size and stability of heritable effects under different environment conditions weigh significantly on any trait useful in breeding strategies. Here we review the challenges and progress made toward decoding the heritable components of SNF, which is considerably more complex than other crop allelic traits since the process involves genetic elements of both the host and the symbiotic rhizobial species. SNF-efficient rhizobial species designed based on the genetics of the host and its symbiotic partner face the test of a unique microbiome for its success and productivity. The progress made thus far in commercial legume crops with relevance to the dynamics of host–rhizobia interaction, environmental impact on rhizobial performance challenges, and what collectively determines the SNF efficiency under field conditions are also reviewed here.

Evaluation of indigenous grain legume collections

Grain legumes have positive impact on global food and nutrition security. Grain legume collections, maintained at the Institute of Plant Genetic Resources - Sadovo are represented by 10 botanical genera. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the phenotypic diversity of local accessions from five grain legume collections (Vicia faba, Pisum sp., Lathyrus sp., Cicer arietinum and Lupinus sp.) and to select the best ones with potential to be used under different agro-climatic conditions. The assessment of morphological and agro-biological traits was performed according to the International Descriptor for each crop. The structural elements of the yield, such as the number of pods and the mass of pods and grains per plant, grains size, etc. have a significant impact on the productivity of the grain legumes. The variability of agronomic and biological traits has shown high genetic diversity in evaluated grain legume collections and increased the possibilities for their use in the breeding-improvement activity. Based on phenotyping assessment several grain legume accessions were distinguished as starting breeding materials: from pea collection - two cultivars and two local populations; from chickpea collection - four populations; from faba bean collection – eight populations; from bitter vetch collection – two accessions; from grass pea collection - six genotypes; from white lupin collection – two accessions. The study of the materials from the collections was focused on the interests of researchers, breeders and producers.

Genome-Wide Association Studies of Seed Performance Traits in Response to Heat Stress in Medicago truncatula Uncover MIEL1 as a Regulator of Seed Germination Plasticity.

Legume seeds are an important source of proteins, minerals, and vitamins for human and animal diets and represent a keystone for food security. With climate change and global warming, the production of grain legumes faces new challenges concerning seed vigor traits that allow the fast and homogenous establishment of the crop in a wide range of environments. These seed performance traits are regulated during seed maturation and are under the strong influence of the maternal environment. In this study, we used 200 natural Medicago truncatula accessions, a model species of legumes grown in optimal conditions and under moderate heat stress (26°C) during seed development and maturation. This moderate stress applied at flowering onwards impacted seed weight and germination capacity. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were performed to identify putative loci or genes involved in regulating seed traits and their plasticity in response to heat stress. We identified numerous significant quantitative trait nucleotides and potential candidate genes involved in regulating these traits under heat stress by using post-GWAS analyses combined with transcriptomic data. Out of them, MtMIEL1, a RING-type zinc finger family gene, was shown to be highly associated with germination speed in heat-stressed seeds. In Medicago, we highlighted that MtMIEL1 was transcriptionally regulated in heat-stressed seed production and that its expression profile was associated with germination speed in different Medicago accessions. Finally, a loss-of-function analysis of the Arabidopsis MIEL1 ortholog revealed its role as a regulator of germination plasticity of seeds in response to heat stress.

Sustainability assessment and optimization of legumes production systems: energy, greenhouse gas emission and ecological footprint analysis

AbstractThis study examined energy, greenhouse gas emission and ecological footprint analysis (EFA) of chickpea and lentil cultivation with different mechanization production systems. In lentil production, except for tillage operations, other operations are performed manually and the remaining straw is burned in the field; while in chickpea production, most of the agricultural operations are mechanized and residues are collected, baled and transferred to the warehouse for animal feed. In this paper, for the first time, some of the sustainability indicators are investigated and compared in two different legume production systems. Energy productivity and net energy for chickpea and lentil production were calculated at 0.036, 0.161 and 2373 and 5900 MJ per hectare, respectively. The CO2emission and ecological carbon footprint were 173 kg CO2−eqand 0.15 global hectare for lentil and 484 and 0.87 for chickpea production. Totally, due to excessive consumption of diesel fuel and lack of proper management, the social cost of emission from straw baling in chickpea production (27.65 dollars per hectare) was higher than burning straw in lentil production (8.77). Multi-objective genetic algorithm results showed the potential of minimizing diesel fuel and fertilizer consumption and no chemical for chickpea production. Overall audition results of two different production systems revealed that traditional lentil production is more sustainable. Therefore, implementations of modern agricultural practices alone are not enough to achieve sustainability in agricultural production systems.

Prospects of grain production development in Kirovohrad region

The purpose of the article is to explore the prospects for the development of grain production in the Kirovograd region. Research methods. The study used dialectical methods of cognition, a systematic approach to the study of economic phenomena, monographic (generalizing domestic and foreign experience in determining the economic essence of food security), analysis and synthesis (in studying the levels of production of cereals and legumes and the level of grain supply), statistical groups (in identifying the place of regions in the national production of cereals), economic and statistical (in the processing of mass statistics), abstract and logical (in substantiating theoretical generalizations and drawing conclusions). Research results. The potential of grain production development in Kirovohrad region is considered. The analysis is based on statistical data of the crop industry. Problems of industry development are revealed and ways of solutions are offered. Scientific novelty. Analysis of the level of crop production in the Kirovohrad region in terms of using the latest technologies and yield monitoring. Practical significance. Along with some positive changes in the region's grain production, obstacles to their development have been identified. Proposals have been made to eliminate them with active investments and state support programs for the agricultural sector of the region. Tabl.: 4. Figs.: 1. Refs.: 18.