Study Agronomy and growing broadacre legume crops.

Learn to grow a very wide range of legumes primarily as food crops, for humans or for animals.

Legumes are some of the most important agronomic crops grown widely, in most countries and climates across the world. This course helps you to better know what to grow, where, how and how to harvest and store the crops that are farmed.

This course covers the following lessons:

1. Scope and Nature of Legume Cropping
Taxonomy of legumes
Brief history of legume use
Significance of Legume Crops
Food plants for people
Food plants for animals
Soil improvers
Amenity plants
Industrial crops
Weeds
Legume cover crops
Inoculation of Legumes
Legumes today
Shade & Salt Tolerant Cover Crops

2. Peas
Introduction
Cultivars
Snap Peas
Green Peas
Appearance
Cultivation
Climate
Soil and Fertility
Land and Seed Bed Preparation
Planting Material
Inoculation
Plant Spacing
Trellising
Nutrient Management
Irrigation
Weed Control
Harvesting

3. Growing Beans
Introduction
Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) -Classification, Growing Conditions, Climate, Soil, Planting, Irrigation, Nutrition, Weeds, Pest and Disease
Management
Varieties – bush, climbing
Harvesting
Storage
Runner Beans (Phaseolus coccineus) - Growing Conditions, Climate, Soil, Planting, Irrigation, Nutrition, Weeds, Pest and Disease, Varieties
Lima Beans (Phaseolus lunatus) – Growing Conditions, Planting, Harvesting, Varieties.
Broad Bean (Vicia faba)- Growing Conditions, Soil, Planting, Irrigation, Nutrition, Weeds, Harvesting, Crop Rotation, Pest and Disease, Varieties
Hyacinth Bean (Lablab purpureus) - Growing Conditions, Climate, Planting, Irrigation, Nutrition, Weeds, Pest and Disease, Varieties
Snake Bean (Vigna unguiculate ssp sesquipedalis) - Growing Conditions, Climate, Planting, Irrigation, Nutrition, Weeds, Pest and Disease
Mung Bean (Vigna radiata) Growing Conditions, Climate, Soil, Land preparation, Sowing, Planting, Irrigation, Nutrition, Weeds, Harvesting, Drying, Storage, IPM, Pest and Disease, Land Management

4. Growing Lentils
Introduction
Planting Lentils
How to Plant
Soil, Watering and Fertiliser
Nurturing the Plants
Diseases
Pests
Harvesting

5. Growing Lupins
Introduction
Lupin plant structure -leaves, stem, branches, roots, flower, pod, seed
Lupin Growing Cycle -germination phases
Benefits of Lupin Crops
Factors affecting Lupin Growth
Seed Quality
Sowing Lupins
Pod Growth
Harvesting
Sources for seed growth
Factors Affecting Seed Development – moisture, temperature
Fertilisers
Pests

6. Growing Alfalfa
Introduction
How to grow alfalfa at home
Lucerne Cropping
Soil type
Fertility Management
Plant Variety
Planting Crops
Seeding Depth
Crop Management
Irrigation
Disease and Insect Management
Harvesting Lucerne

7. Soybeans
Introduction
Planting Soybean Crops
Modern Farming Practices (eg. Zero tilling)
Soil Management
Variety Selection
Planting Soybeans
Plant Growth and Physiology
Nutrition and Fertiliser
Nutritional Deficiency
Weed Control
Pest Control
Harvesting Soybeans

8. Growing Chickpeas
Introduction
Crop Preparation
Weed Control
Soil Preparation
Soil Moisture
Diseases
Chickpea Varieties -Desi Type, Kabuli Type
Planting Chickpeas
Plant Growth and Physiology
Nutrition and Fertiliser
Harvest

9. Other Legumes
Peanut
Inga (Ice Cream Bean)
Tamarind
Carob
Acacia (Wattle seed)
Clovers and Annual Medics
Growing Clovers
Clover Species
Medics

10. Processing and Using Legumes
Introduction
Storage Planning
Silo Options
Grain Storage Bags
Bunkers
Underground Pits
Calculating Costs
Variable Costs of On Farm Storage
Aeration Cooling
Repairs and Maintenance
Time & Labour
ROI Investment Analysis
Safety
Grain Storage and Insect Management
Storing Lentils
Storing Soybeans
Storing Chickpeas
Storing Peanuts
Storing Faba Beans
Storing Field Peas