Spring, summer, autumn and winter, when to plant? See how different regions in China achieve differentiated planting

Edible beans are an important economic crop in my country. They are loved by farmers everywhere because of their rich nutrition and strong adaptability. They are widely planted in different regions of China. However, due to differences in climate, soil and farming systems, there are certain differences in the cultivation of broad beans, peas and mung beans in different regions. Let's take a look at the differences and reasons of various edible beans in different regions.

What are the differences in broad bean cultivation in different regions?

The suitable planting period for broad bean production areas in China is divided into two types: spring sowing and autumn sowing. The choice of sowing time faces different problems. In the spring sowing area, sowing is usually carried out from February to April. When the temperature rises to 0~5°, sowing is done as early as possible to cultivate strong seedlings. In the autumn sowing area, the suitable planting period is from October to November. Sowing too early may cause the seedlings to grow too long and reduce branches, while sowing too late may lead to prolonged emergence time and reduced branches before winter, which is not conducive to the formation of strong seedlings.

Therefore, the most suitable sowing time should be determined according to the local temperature conditions, and the sowing time should be designed with the focus on avoiding low temperature and frost damage during the reproductive growth period. Therefore, the sowing time should vary with the altitude and latitude of the planting area.

What are the differences in pea cultivation in different regions?

China's pea production is mainly divided into two major regions: the autumn-sown pea area in the south and the spring-sown pea area in the north. The spring-sown pea area covers Qinghai, Ningxia, Xinjiang, Tibet, Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, western Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi, and northern Hebei. It is generally sown in March and April and harvested in July and August. The autumn-sown pea area includes Henan, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, eastern Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi, southern Hebei, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and the Huanghuaihai region. It is generally sown from the end of September to November and harvested in April and May of the following year.

China's main green pea production areas are located near major large and medium-sized cities across the country. Due to China's long history of pea cultivation, wide geographical distribution, diverse utilization methods, and different climates, soils, topography, socio-economic development and farming systems in the planting areas, a variety of pea planting methods have been formed. Generally speaking, peas are drought-resistant and barren-resistant beans, slightly better than broad beans. They are a good predecessor of various crops in dryland areas, occupy an important position in the farming system and dietary structure, and are also an indispensable and important part of sustainable agriculture.

What are the differences in mung bean cultivation in different regions?

China's mung bean production is mainly divided into four major production areas: the spring sowing area in the northeast, the spring sowing area along the Great Wall, the summer sowing area in the north, and the summer and autumn sowing area in the south. Among them, the northern spring sowing mung bean production area includes the spring sowing area in the northeast and the spring sowing area along the Great Wall, and its sowing area and annual output account for more than 70% of the total mung bean planting area and total output in the country. This production area is mainly distributed in arid and semi-arid areas such as the western part of the northeast, the northern part of North China, and the northern part of Shaanxi and Shanxi. Mung beans are not very demanding on soil, and all kinds of soil can be planted, but alkaline soils with a pH value greater than 8 and low-lying and easily waterlogged plots should be avoided; at the same time, it is also necessary to avoid repeated or repeated crops, and neutral or slightly acidic sandy loam with irrigation conditions is the most suitable. In the spring sowing area in the northeast, the suitable sowing period is generally between May and June, while in the spring sowing area along the Yangtze River, the suitable sowing period is between May and July.

In general, China's edible bean cultivation presents distinct regional characteristics due to differences in geographical environment, climatic conditions and traditional farming systems. These differences not only enrich the types and tastes of edible beans in my country, but also provide us with diversified development ideas. In future agricultural production, we should continue to explore and utilize these differences to achieve higher economic and ecological benefits.

Produced by: Popular Science in China to Benefit Farmers

Scientific Advisor: Xue Chenchen, Associate Researcher, Legume Crop Innovation Team, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Zhang Xiaoyan Associate Researcher, Legume Crop Innovation Team, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Huang Lu Assistant Researcher, Legume Crop Innovation Team, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Co-ordinators: Liao Danfeng, Zheng Fengmao, Wang Changhai, Zhang Ruijie

Planning: Wu Yuetong

Editor: Yan Shuo (internship)