Pulses and oats benefit the environment when included in a three or four-year crop rotation system. These crops are conservation tilled, preventing soil erosion and reducing the release of carbon from the soil. No irrigation is required – the crops benefit from the moisture held in the soil, and in the case of pulses, have deep roots that help with moisture management.
Pulses are nitrogen fixing, which means they pull nitrogen from the air and deposit it in their root nodes. These nodes remain in the soil after harvest and provide nutrition for the following year’s crop. This reduces inputs (e.g. fertilizer) and therefore, costs. Pulses and oats nourish soil microbes and crop yields are typically higher in soils with a healthy microbiome that is alive with a diverse population of soil organisms. These organisms break down and cycle nutrients, feeding the crops as they grow and crowding out disease-causing bacteria and fungi.
Pea Growth Stages Diagram, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers.