Exploring the Fascinating Facts About North American Pulse Crops

Pulse crops, also known as legumes or grain legumes, are a group of plants that belong to the family Fabaceae. They are harvested for the seeds they produce, which are high in protein, fiber, and other essential nutrients. To be described as a pulse crop, a legume must have dry seeds that do not contain high amounts of oil. For this reason, soybeans are not classified as pulses.

Pulse crops are best adapted to colder climates, such as temperate regions and the winter season in Mediterranean climates. However, some pulses are highly adaptable to climatic conditions and may do well in other regions.

They are valued for their high protein content, as well as their ability to fix nitrogen to the soil. Pulse crops have been a staple of human diets for thousands of years and are an essential part of many cuisines around the world.

There are many different types of pulse crops, each with its unique characteristics and uses. In this article, we’ll explore general facts about pulses and the interesting highlights of the most common types of pulse crops grown and commercialized in the United States and Canada.

Benefits of Pulse Crops

Pulse crops offer amazing benefits, including their excellent nutritional value, as well as ecological benefits. Below we’ll discuss them.

Pulse Crops Have Excellent Nutritional Value

Pulse crops constitute an essential source of protein, fiber, and other essential nutrients, making them a valuable addition to healthy diets. Furthermore, pulse crops are low in fat, making them an excellent choice for people looking to increase their protein intake, while reducing their overall calorie intake.

In addition, pulse crops are excellent sources of plant-based protein, making them attractive alternatives to animal-based protein for vegetarians. As the plant-based industry continues to expand, the research for good sources of high-quality plant-based proteins has shifted from conventional sources, such as soy, to pulses. One of the reasons for this is that, unlike soybeans, pulse crops are dry/less oily, making them easier to process.

Pulse Crops are Beneficial to the Environment

From an agronomic perspective, pulse crops are also beneficial. They are low-input crops, meaning they require relatively little fertilizer and pesticides compared to other crops. As a result, pulse crops constitute a sustainable option for farmers, thus reducing the environmental impact of agriculture.

Pulse Crops are Beneficial to the Soil

Being leguminous crops, pulses house symbiotic rhizobia bacteria within nodules in their root systems. These bacteria help convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, thereby improving the fertility of the soil.

In addition, pulse crops provide an essential rotational crop option for farmers. By rotating pulse crops with other crops such as cereals, farmers can reduce weed and soil-borne diseases, reduce the need for fertilizer and pesticides, and improve overall soil health.

Pulse Crops Contribute to Sustainability

Incorporating pulses into crop rotations contributes to sustainability. This is due to the soil fertility, water, and soil microbial benefits of pulse crops, which also benefit the following crops.

According to Pulse Canada, after pulses are harvested from a farm, newly cultivated crops, such as wheat and barley, produce higher yields and contain more protein. As a result, fertilizer use is reduced in the following crops, which reduces carbon emissions.

Spotlight on Eight (8) Most Common Pulse Crops

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recognizes 11 types of pulses. They include dry beans, dry broad beans, dry peas, chickpeas, black-eyed peas (cow peas), pigeon peas, lentils, Bambara beans, vetches, lupins, and others. Here, we will present quick facts about eight of them, which are the most popular.

1. Dry Beans

This group of pulse crops encompasses a wide variety of beans. Dry beans include black, white kidney, cranberry, Great Northern, dark red kidney, light red kidney, navy, pink, pinto, and small red beans.

Dry beans are believed to have been first domesticated in Mexico and South America about 8,000-10,000 years ago. Today, they form staple food in many parts of the world.

Black Beans

Black beans are commonly used in Latin American cuisine, including black bean soup, refried beans, and rice and beans. They are rich in various nutrients. For more information, please read our previous article: Amazing Black Beans Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits.

White Kidney Beans

Originally from Central and South America, white kidney beans are now consumed all over the world. There are several other names for the food crop, including white beans, Italian kidney beans, Cannellini beans, Northern beans, Haricot Blanc, Coco, and Flageolet. Read more on Interesting Scientific Facts About White Bean Nutrition and Health Benefits.

Navy Beans

Navy beans are small, white pulses that are high in protein and fiber. They are commonly used in baked beans, soups, and stews.

2. Dry Peas

Peas constitute another example of pulse crops that have high commercial value. They come in different varieties, including green peas, yellow peas, and red peas.

They are often broken into halves to form split peas. Dry peas are high in protein, fiber, and several vitamins and minerals, and are commonly used in soups, stews, and casseroles.

3. Lentils

Lentils (Lens culinaris Medik.) are small, lens-shaped seeds that come in a variety of colors, including yellow, green, and red. They are high in protein and fiber and are commonly used in soups, stews, and salads.

Lentils are highly-valued economic pulse crops. The history of their cultivation dates to 7000 B.C., when they were first grown in southwest Asia (1).

Lentil is rapidly emerging as an important food and pulse crop because it is a nutrition powerhouse. A diet of lentils is rich in vitamins, calories, protein, fiber, minerals (calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, iron, folate), and healthy amounts of fat and carbohydrate. The proteins in lentils contain good amounts of the essential amino acids leucine, lysine, threonine, and phenylalanine (1, 2).

4. Chickpeas

Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are another example of pulse crops. They can be used in a variety of dishes, including hummus, falafel, curries, croutons, salads, stir-fries, meat-free patties, and stews.

Chickpeas are high in protein content, as well as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The major minerals in chickpeas include folate, magnesium, iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and zinc. The vitamins include Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C (3). For more, see 10 interesting chickpeas facts.

5. Black-eyed Peas

These constitute another type of pulse crops and are agronomically classified as beans. They are otherwise called cowpeas.   Black-eyed peas form stable food in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. For more interesting facts about cowpeas, read our previous article: Black-Eyed Pea Farming in North America: Why you should Invest.

6. Dry Broad (Fava) Beans

Fava beans, also known as broad beans or faba beans, are a large, flat pulse crop with a nutty flavor. They are high in protein, fiber, and several vitamins and minerals.

7. Pigeon Peas

Pigeon peas constitute another interesting example of pulse crops, and they are perennial.  They are rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals.  The Vitamins present in pigeon peas include thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, folate, and vitamin A. These pulse crops also contain the following minerals: calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, and potassium. Learn more about pigeon peas facts here.

8. Lupin

Lupin is another important example of pulse crops. Though Lupins are not as popular as the other pulse crops, there are over 280 species worldwide, according to Alberta Pulse Growers.  There are currently four significant types of Lupin, which have been domesticated through intensive breeding (that achieved reduced alkaloid content, non-shattering pods, and softer seeds (4)). They include Lupinus albus (white), Lupinus luteus (yellow), Lupinus angustifolius (narrow leafed, blue) and Lupinus mutabilis (Andean pearl lupin) [4].

Depending on the species, the seeds of lupin contain 30 – 40% protein, 25% fiber, 6 – 8% oil, and 2% – 6% starch [4]. The high proteins and low starch content make lupin an appealing crop for processing into value-added products. Also, the low oil content, compared to soy makes them a promising alternative to soy for commercial plant protein production.

Pulse Crops Produced in Canada: A Comprehensive Overview

Pulse crops yield an important commodity that plays a significant role in Canadian agriculture. Canada prides itself as one of the largest pulse producers in the world. According to Pulse Canada, Canada ships 80% of the pulses produced around the world, making the North American country the largest exporter of pulses.

Canada produces four main types of pulses in large quantities; they include dry peas, lentils, chickpeas, and dry beans. The fifth one produced in less quantity is faba (fava) beans. The sixth one, lupin, is currently under field trials in Canada and is also produced in small quantities.

According to Statistics Canada, the production volume for dry beans, chickpeas, lentils, dry peas, and faba beans in 2022 were 312,994 metric tons (mt), 127,929 mt, 2,300,598 mt, 3,423,266 mt, and 87,794 mt respectively.

What Contributes to the Success of Canada’s Pulses Production?

First, the soil conditions in five major Canadian provinces: Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Québec favor extensive pulse farming. Also, the climate conditions during pulses farming seasons reduce the risk of attack by pests and insects. And the weather favors long-term grain storage.

Moreover, Canada has invested enormous amounts of money in research and development, which has yielded amazing positive results. These include the development of high-performing and high-quality pulses breeds, adopting the latest technologies, and achieving more sustainable farming practices.

Impact on the Canadian Agricultural Economy

Pulse crops constitute a vital component of the Canadian agricultural sector. According to Canada Pulse, pulse crops contributed $6.3 billion to the Canadian economy in 2021, with 8.8 Million acres cultivated that year.

Furthermore, pulse crops provide an essential source of income for many Canadian farmers. The high demand for Canadian-grown pulse crops has resulted in strong export markets, creating opportunities for farmers to sell their crops abroad. In 2021, pulse crop farming created 25, 907 Canadian jobs, according to Canada Pulse.

Canadian pulses find application in many industries, including bakery, snacks, plant-based meat, pasta and noodles, dairy and dairy analogs, food service, and feed. Visit the Canada Pulse webpage to learn more about pulses recipes and products.

Pulse Crops Produced in the United States: A Comprehensive Overview

Pulse crops also form an essential part of the American agriculture industry. These crops provide valuable sources of protein and nutrients and are used in a wide variety of food products. The most common pulse crops produced in the United States include dry beans, peas, lentils, and chickpeas.

Dry Beans are the most widely produced pulse crops in the United States. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), over 1,223,000 acres of dry beans were harvested in 2022, with a total production of nearly 1,076,738,000 USD. The most grown varieties of dry beans in the US include navy beans, pinto beans, black beans, and kidney beans.

Dry peas are another important pulse crop grown in the United States. The two main types of peas grown in the US are green peas and yellow peas. According to the USDA, about 862,000 acres of dry peas were harvested in the US in 2022, with a total production of over 233,256,000 USD.

Lentil was the third most-produced pulse crop in America in 2022.  According to the USDA, 602,000 acres of lentils were harvested in the US, with a total production of 180,116,000 USD.

Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are pulse crops that are commonly grown in the United States. In 2022, over 341,900 acres of chickpeas were harvested in the US, with a total production of nearly 122,277,000 USD.

The Bottom Line

Pulse crops form a vital component of American and Canadian agriculture, contributing significantly to North America’s economy and providing great benefits to the soil and environment. Pulse crops also offer numerous benefits from a nutritional perspective, making them an attractive option for people looking to improve their diets.

Countries with favorable climates and abundant farmland may look at these facts and strategize to be well-positioned to invest in pulse farming. This would benefit the country and contribute to a sustainable global agri-food system.

References

1. McVicar, R., McCall, P., Brenzil, C., Hartley, S., Panchuk, K., Mooleke, P., Vandenberg, A., & Banniza, S. (2017). Lentils in Saskatchewan. Online at: http://publications.gov.sk.ca/documents/20/86381-LentilsinSaskatchewan.pdf. Accessed: February 29, 2019.
2. Boye, J. I. (2015). Lentil. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Online at: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/lentil. Accessed: February 19, 2022.