Transitions to greater legume inclusion in cropland: Defining opportunities and estimating benefits for the nitrogen economy

A transition to greater legume inclusion in cropland, with all the associated environmental benefits, relies on there being space for expansion, limited conflict with existing profitable crops, and limited competition between legumes types and products. Here, data from the EU's Integrated Administration and Control System were combined with national survey to estimate, for a case study region in eastern Scotland, current legume inclusion, the scope for expansion of grain legumes, and the associated savings of mineral nitrogen. AbstractGrain legumes have declined to a low base in many regions of intensified agriculture yet have the potential both to safeguard food security and satisfy rising ethical demands from food consumers. Here, the scope for legume expansion is examined in a long ‐established agricultural region in eastern Scotland where grain legumes declined to<0.3% of cropped area in the 1930s and now vary around 1%. Data from the EU's Integrated Administrative and Control System (IACS) were combined with national agricultural survey to resolve uncertainties over possible restrictions to expansion following 20th ‐century intensification. The grain legumes, peas and beans for animal and human consumption, were found to occupy six crop‐grass systems covering a wide range of agronomic input and geographical location. The phase of agricultural intensification between 1950 and 1990 had widened rather than re stricted the systems in which they occur and could expan...
Source: Food and Energy Security - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL RESEARCH Source Type: research