Field pea minerals, protein, and fat affected by environment more than crop residue management

Field peas ( Pisum sativum L.) are an important source of protein, fiber, and minerals for human consumption. As N‐fixing pulse crops, incorporating field peas into crop rotations can also enhance agricultural sustainability. Agricultural management influences soil, plant, and grain characteristics. However, the influence of agricultural management on field pea quality under semiarid conditions is poorly understood. A 12‐year biomass removal experiment in the Northern Great Plains allowed evaluation of how management influences food quality. Here, we assessed how biomass removal treatments in a 2‐year crop rotation of field pea and spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) influenced field pea protein, fat, and minerals Ca, P, K, Zn, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, and Na. Treatments after grain harvest included no biomass removal (NR), removal of wheat straw (WH), removal of wheat and pea residue (WPH), and a grazed treatment where wheat and pea residue was grazed (WPG). Our results showed that differences in minerals and protein were more affected by annual weather variability than residue removal treatments from 2019 to 2021. With increasing drought severity, our experiment showed significant decreases in field pea yield ( p ≤ 0.01), yet pea grain had greater protein, P, K, Fe, Zn, and Cu ( p ≤ 0.01). While the yield of field peas was lower during severe drought, the nutritional quality of field peas increased. This may lead to higher premiums to producers for field peas during times of drought.