Influence of field beans (Vicia faba L.) on yield and environmental footprint of following spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) crops

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Abstract Background and Aims The urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has increased interest in legume-based cropping systems. Among the various crop-legume species available, the cool-season species Vicia faba L. (cv. minor; field beans) has attracted significant interest. Assessment of the environmental impact reduction of field beans in a crop-sequence (rotation) is understudied. Methods Data from a long term (2009–2023) field bean experimental platform (the Centre for Sustainable Cropping, CSC; James Hutton Institute, Scotland, UK) were analysed using attributional life cycle assessment (aLCA). This focused on elaborating the impacts of a spring field bean to spring barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) cropping sequence compared with a spring barley to spring barley cropping sequence. Results Field beans decreased the environmental impact of spring barley production in four of the five two-year crop-sequence periods, with mean impact reductions of approximately 25% across sequences. Spring barley grain yields tended to increase following field beans under drought conditions (2022). A combined index analysis indicated that humidity, maximum temperature, and previous field bean yields were the strongest determinants of spring barley production. Conclusions The integration of field beans to cereal-dominated rotations may be of interest to major industries who seek to improve value chain sustainability, whilst ensuring crop-sequence yields are climate-impact resilient.

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