Protein peas: Factor in rational production of healthy feed

Qualities that make fodder peas significant in finding a solution to the deficiency of plants protein in livestock nutrition are its diverse uses short growing season, modest requirements with respect to growing conditions high and stable yields, and the quality of its forage and grain. In the recent trends in plant production such as sustainable agriculture and organing farming, cover crops such as fodder peas became more important and practically non missing link in crop rotation. With fodder pea growing application of chemicals (mineral fertilizers and pesticides) are reduced or completely omitted. Hence, beside high grain and forage yield and quality aim of fodder pea growing is protection of agro ecological system. From that point of view fodder pea production should be is environmentally sound economically feasible and socially acceptable. The main benefits of fodder pea as cover crop are reducing fertilizer costs, improving of soil properties and reducing the needs for pesticides.