PULSES (Grain Legumes)
Pulses are legumes that produce seed. They are harvested when dry, then cooked for human consumption. They are high in protein and can substitute for meat in the diet. Oil content varies widely. Pulses provide good quantities of B vitamins. Carbohydrate contents vary, but often include long-chain carbohydrates that are difficult to digest and may lead to flatulence. Most pulses contain antinutritional factors or poisonous substances and need to be thoroughly cooked before eating. Under proper conditions, they can be stored for many years. Most tropical pulses are annuals. Their climatic adaptation varies, and some have severe insect and disease problems that limit their use.
Seeds are available to members of our network.
To find out how to request seeds, click here.
Adzuki Bean | Black Gram | Chickpea | Common Bean-Bush | Common Bean-Pole | Cowpea| Fava Bean | Green Gram | Horsegram | Lablab Bean | Lentils | Lima Bean | Marama Bean | Moth Bean | Nuna/Popping Bean | Pigeon pea | Rice Bean | Scarlet Runner Bean | Soybean | Tepary Bean | Winged Bean
Australian acacias with low levels of toxic and anti-nutritional factors; produce a nutritious, tasty seed high in protein, carbohydrates, and fat; acacia flour should not make up more than 25% of a recipe. Acacias withstand hot, dry conditions (annual rainfall 350-800mm) in the tropics. Seeds have also served as a substitute for coffee
See AGROFORESTRY TREES for more acacia varieties.
Acacia colei: Excelled in Nigerian trials; early and heavy seed bearer; not prone to seed shattering; dried leaves can be used as low grade animal fodder. Very drought resistant. Edible pods that are nutritious and have tasty seeds. Spreading shrub growth habit. SA, MS. Image
A. elachantha: Good growth rate; may produce more seed than A. colei, but ripening period is longer and seed shatters more easily; produces lots of biomass and makes strong poles. Pods are edible. SA, MS.
A. torulosa: Mature trees or shrub show fewer signs of stress and produce a heavy seed crop after a low rainfall year. SA, MS. Image
A. tumida: has large seed which is easy to harvest and process; better balanced nutritionally than A. colei; needs slightly higher rainfall. Grows in arid and semi-arid zones. Good for firewood and low windbrakes. Seeds and pods are edible. SA, MS.
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Perennial shrub produces pulse or green seed in dry seasonally dry climates. . Although common in the low dry and humid tropics, this frost-sensitive species has been reported cultivated up to elevations of 2,000 m (6,000 ft) in the Himalayas and to 3,000 m (9,000 ft) in Venezuela. Uses include: vegetable, fodder, green manure, agroforestry
Agroforestry Select: Grew up to 8 feet on the ECHO farm. This variety selected to be used for animal fodder and therefore is not a heavy bearer.
2-B Bushy: Bushy plant that grows to 3 ft tall (about half the size of other types). Originally from Puerto Rico.
Black: Black colored beans.
Goya: Commercial variety; large gray seeds.
ICPL 8151: ICP 8151 is a germ plasm collection from India. Days to 50% flowering is 148 days. Days to maturity is 235 days Plant height: 190 cm. A late seed bearing non-determinate variety with creamy white colored seeds. These characters were recorded at ICRISAT, Patancheru, Hyderabad, INDIA.
ICPL 92016: Cultivar developed by ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics). It is a short-duration pigeon pea (100-140 days to maturity) that produces heavily. At ECHO this variety produced heavily with bushes reaching 3.5 feet (1-1.5 m). It had good disease and drought resistance with no signs of nutrient deficiencies. This variety survived Hurricane Charley and recovered quite well despite being completely flattened.
Short Duration: Tend to be early and prolific pod production. Most pigeon peas are perennials, but these grow as annuals with a life of 3-4 months. This variety is usually day neutral. This variety is recommended for human consumption, but not for fodder, since the plants have less vegetative growth.
Vegetable Pigeon Pea: Pick when mature, but green. Higher content of sugar, fat and protein. Longer podded with larger seeds. Vegetable Mix variety has larger green seed than pulse varieties; adaptable to many soils; capable of nitrogen fixation; frost-sensitive; cultivated up to elevations of 2,000 m (6,000 ft) in the Himalayas and to 3,000 m (9,000 ft) in Venezuela.
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Chickpea is a very drought tolerant cool season crop (8-22C/46-72F) that tolerates a lot of heat during fruiting and ripening. It is grown as a cool season annual in a broad belt through the Mediterranean region to the sub-tropical and tropical regions of Asia, Europe, Central & South America. The chickpea grows in a variety of soils but does not tolerate wet or saline soils very well. Very heavy soils may cause problems in emergence of seedlings. Immature beans used as a vegetable; dried seed used in a variety of dishes; young leaves and shoots used as herbs.
Made into numerous fermented and unfermented dishes; good oil source. Cooked vegetable soybean seeds are eaten like lima beans or peas. Vegetable soybean is used frequently as a rotated cash crop between second and first crops of paddy rice; soil-improvement properties; tolerate continuous cropping. Generally day-length sensitive. Needs short days to set seed.
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Grain types:
Braxton: Developed for temperate areas.
Kahala: Nematode resistant tropical soybean from the University of Hawaii.
Edamames (Vegetable types):
These are sweet soybeans (8-12%sugar) cooked in or out of pods as a vegetable; picked when pods still green.
Lucky Lion: 75 days. Vivid green pods. High yielding.
Taiwame: Grows well in subtropical areas. Very prolific.
Early Hakucho: 75 Days. Bright green pods about 2.5 inches long. Not a short-day plant. Dwarf plant, reliable even when season is short.
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Lablab Bean is capable of growing in a wide range of climatic conditions and soil types, depending upon the variety chosen. Lablabs have been grown from sea level to 2,000 m (6,000 ft) in tropical regions. It tolerates drought periods well but has been grown successfully in climates ranging from 200-2500 mm (8-100 in) annual rainfall. Lablabs prefer well-drained soils with a pH range from 4.4-7.8. Lablab has been grown both in nutrient-poor soils and those high in some minerals such as aluminum.Dark-seeded cultivars have high levels of both cyanogenic glucoside and a trypsin inhibitor and must be cooked, sprouted, or fermented before eating.
Red: Scarlet pods, larger pods can be eaten raw; produces in long day and short day conditions. Image
Highworth: Pods are non-shattering; quick maturing, and yields well.
Rongai: An excellent forage and ground cover. Does well in humid regions but is fairly drought
resistant as well.
White: White seed. Vine for forage and seeds are edible for human consumption.
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Mix of all four varieties of lablab is also available.
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Lentils are well adapted to semi-arid growing conditions during cool seasons in warm temperate regions, although it tolerates subtropical climates and high elevation tropical environments. It is grown as a summer annual in temperate climates and as a winter annual in subtropical climates. It can thrive with as little as 25 - 30 cm (10 -12 in) rainfall. Lentil tolerates a wide range of well-drained soil types; however, it dies quickly in waterlogged soils.
Crimson: drought-resistant Middle Eastern pulse; early blooming.
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Horse gram is a valuable crop for sloping land that is poor in mineral content either in hot, humid areas or semi-arid areas up to 5,000 ft. (1500 m.). It will tolerate drought conditions, poor soil, some salinity but not water logged soil. The plant needs short days to flower and optimum temperatures of 20-30°C. The small seed is rarely attacked by insects or disease and is eaten boiled or fried.
White
Brown/Yellow
Tan
Black
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Phaseolus coccineus H, MS, T
Scarlet Runner Bean
Images: leaves | flower | seed
Originating in the Central American highlands, this bean is suited to the high-altitude tropics. Adapted to areas with cool temperatures [12-22C (55-70F)], the fresh pods [10-30 cm (4-12 in)], dry beans (cook thoroughly), and tubers may all be harvested for food. Tubers must be thoroughly cooked to eliminate toxins. It has a strong root system and serves as a living mulch. The variety ECHO carries has more of a bushy than climbing growth habit; we have not yet observed whether or not it produces tubers. It is intolerant of high heat. Soil pH 6.0-7.0.
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Seven Year: The plant prefers a dry, frost-free growing season but if frosted, will die back and re-grow. Its growth is slowed down by cool weather. It is fairly drought resistant and requires light, well-drained soil with a pH of 6-7. It is tolerant of a wide variety of soil types: perennial vining local variety from Zimbabwe; large seeded and a vigorous producer.
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Hopi Red: Very drought tolerant bean. Small beans with red/beige. coloring. Originally collected from three farmers near Hotevilla on the Hopi reservation. Low pole, almost bushy. Image
Pima Beige: Producing light tan seeds, this deep-rooted indeterminate climber from Arizona has performed well during spring plantings at ECHO, before the onset of summer rains. Benefits from regular watering initially, but will tolerate some drought once established.
Pima Orange: Produces attractive orange seeds. Other than seed color, traits and cultural requirements are similar to those of Pima Beige.
Bush green beans are grown in a wide range of soils, preferring a well-drained friable soil, in full sun with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. They will do well in the tropics when planted at elevations between 1000 m and 3000 m and when soil temperature is over 10ºC (50ºF).
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Contender: 55 days, pod grows to 16 cm (6.5 in); has a flavorful, string-less, and fleshy bean; resistant to powdery mildew and bean mosaic virus; will not produce when hot and humid.
Tio canela: A small, red-seeded variety harvested as a dry bean at 4-5 months after planting. This variety is noted for its resistance to bean golden yellow mosaic virus. Researchers in Haiti identified it as a top performer in extensive field trials.
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Wax Bean Posey: This tall white wax pole bean is an heirloom from the Posey family of Jasper Alabama. White pods can be eaten even when fairly mature. Dry beans are dark and make a dark soup. Image
Requires short days to flower; adapted to high altitudes; seed pops when toasted, so boiling is not necessary. Tolerate temperatures ranging from 2-25C (36-77F). Require 500-1300mm (20-50 in) of rainfall throughout growing period. Image
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Bogor: Very vigorous; 20 cm (8 in) pods, high yields.
Chimbu: Tender, crimson red pods, purple seed, medium yields.
Flat: Easy to transport pods due to shape. Needs shorter days to produce seed.
Ribbon: Smaller wings, 23 cm (9 in) green pods. Needs shorter days to produce seed.
Siempre: Day length sensitive. Needs shorter days to produce seed. Pods are smaller then most of these varieties.
Square: Good tuber production.
Day-Neutral: Blooms during longer days, allowing out of season production.
A Mix of all the varieties is also available.
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Drought-resistant bean from Kalahari desert; roast in shell to get a hickory-smoked cashew flavor. It is a rich source of protein and energy in regions where few conventional crops can survive. It grows in some areas that receive up to 800mm (32 in) rainfall and in others where rainfall is so slight and erratic that in some years almost no rain falls at all. Long viny stems are creepers rather then climbers. Tubers can be eaten baked , boiled or roasted. They have a sweet pleasant flavor and contain up to 90% water.
Vicia faba var. faba
Fava/Broad Bean T,H, MS
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A cool season crop suited to high altitudes; unripe seed may be eaten raw; pulse can be boiled, ground into flour, popped, or sprouted and eaten.
Sweet Loraine: medium-sized seed; plants to 2 m; heavy nitrogen fixer. Least drought tolerant of legume crops. Does not set seed at higher temperatures.
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Dried pulse used either whole or split; young pods eaten as a vegetable. Indigenous to semi-arid regions of India where it is known as the most drought-tolerant legume grown in the country. Requires 500 mm or less; can be successfully intercropped with sorghum, millet or cotton; requires little fertilization; tolerates some salinity but not water-logging.
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Adzuki-bean is a short-day annual species that grows well in northern hemisphere temperate climates from 35 to 48 degrees N latitude. Generally, its climatic requirements and growing conditions are similar to those of soybean. Adzuki-bean is moderately drought tolerant; grows well in regions having an annual precipitation ranging from 530 to 1730 mm (20-68 in). It has been grown successfully in a range of soil types including silt loams and sandy soils. It does not tolerate water-logged soils. Adzuki bean sprouts may be eaten. Pods can be eaten like snap beans when young and tender. More typically, dry seeds are boiled and served with rice or made into a paste.
Images: Pods/seeds (courtesy of Seeds of Change) Flower
Black gram is an annual, warm season crop, which produces pods of 4-6 cm in 3 months. It tolerates a wide range of soils often succeeding in heavier soils where other crops will not. Can grow in day neutral areas as well as short-day. Erect pods with longer hairs, more seed and better drought-tolerance compared to mung bean.
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Early-maturing bush or vine-like herb; high yielding pulse; widely adaptable The mung bean is cultivated most extensively in the India-Burma-Thailand region of Southeastern Asia as well as in other countries such as Iran, Pakistan, Vietnam and China. Mung beans are a short season crop requiring 60 to 90 days from planting to maturity. In general, mung beans grow well on warm sandy soils.
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Slender twining vine; drought-tolerant; needs well-drained soils; often intercropped with rice. There are both climbing and bush types of rice bean. It can be grown as an annual or perennial. The bush variety can be 30-75 cm tall. Trifoliate leaves grow thick on the stems providing a dense ground cover. Yellow flowers are followed by round pods in heavy producing groups of 5-12 about 10 cm long. The plants require short days to flower. Seeds are ready for harvest 90-120 days after planting depending on the time of year.
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Drought-tolerant forage/edible pulse; bush plant with compact pods. A native to central Africa, this legume can be used as a green manure and erosion control. The plant grows rapidly to control erosion. Succeeds best in warm weather surviving some drought conditions and even some shade. It is not particular to soil types, will thrive where soil is well drained, properly inoculated and moderately rich with limeUses: vegetable (young leaves are edible as well as young pods), fodder, green manure, cover crop, erosion control, and nitrogen fixation. Seeds can be eaten green or dried. Seeds are nutritious and high in protein. Young pods can be eaten as “snap beans.”
Baby Cream: A release from the USDA vegetable laboratory in Charleston, South Carolina. Compact, erect plant with small, delicate, cream-type peas. Resistant to lodging and root-knot nematodes, and performs well under hot and humid conditions.
Bettergro Blackeye: Resistant to cowpea curculio and root knot nematodes; susceptible to blackeye cowpea mosaic virus; good flavor. In 2005 observation trial this variety produced the most pods. Appeared to have less vegetative growth compared to the other varieties and was more upright.
Charleston Blackeye: A release from the USDA vegetable laboratory in Charleston, South Carolina. Root-knot nematode resistant, upright growth, 2-4inch yellow pods. Cream colored black eyed peas.
#83-060 Cowpea: This legume grew well on acid soil and resisted insects and disease in the Amazon in one trial. In ECHO’s observation trial it had the most vegetative growth, but never bloomed. It is day sensitive. This variety would make an excellent ground cover, because of its vigorous growth.
Thailand Long: From a missionary in Thailand, has done well at ECHO. This variety is a heavy producer with an upright growth habit. Produced very uniform pods.
Zipper Cream: 70 days; high-producing fresh market pea; named Zipper because it almost shells itself; thick pod walls help it resist curculio, stink bug, and weevil damage. In observation trial at ECHO had a very lowest/prostrate growth habit of all the varieties we carry.
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