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Article
Nutritional Composition of Grain Legume Leaves and the Impact of Leaf Removal on Yield
Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment
  • Rosemary Bulyaba, Iowa State University
  • Andrew W. Lenssen, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
1-1-2019
DOI
10.2134/age2018.06.0015
Abstract

Grain legumes can thrive in adverse environments, making them a climate-smart technology for hunger mitigation. Although several countries rely immensely on grain legumes to meet daily protein intake requirements per capita, the potentiality of leaf utilization for protein and other nutrients has not been widely considered; additionally, insufficient information is available on leaf removal effects on yield and leaf nutritional composition of grain legumes. A 2-yr experiment was conducted in central Iowa, USA, to determine the effects of leaf removal rates on nutritive value of removed leaf tissue and subsequent grain yield of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.], lablab [Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet], and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Across entries, dry leaf mean nutrient concentration was 229 g kg–1 for CP, and 17,832, 4461, 21,991, 3702, 113, 205, and 86 mg kg–1 for Ca, Mg, K, P, Mn, Fe, and Zn, respectively. Yield and major yield attributes were affected by leaf removal rate in 2014, but not in 2013. In 2014, grain legumes with 0% leaf removal had 20, 32, and 35% greater yield and seeds weighed 6, 11, and 12% more than those with 33, 66, and 99% leaf removal, respectively. Aboveground biomass, yield, and yield components also differed among entries both years. Grain legume leaf utilization as vegetable or forage may improve human and ruminant nutrition by using leaves, especially in developing countries.

Comments

This article is published as Bulyaba, Rosemary, and Andrew W. Lenssen. "Nutritional Composition of Grain Legume Leaves and the Impact of Leaf Removal on Yield." Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment 2, no. 1 (2019). doi: 10.2134/age2018.06.0015.

Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International
Copyright Owner
The Authors
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Rosemary Bulyaba and Andrew W. Lenssen. "Nutritional Composition of Grain Legume Leaves and the Impact of Leaf Removal on Yield" Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment Vol. 2 Iss. 1 (2019) p. 180015
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/andrew_lenssen/146/