Our Guide to Organic Chickpea Farming: Seedbed Preparation and Sowing

Chickpeas may not be a common crop in Serbia, especially in organic farming, but they could be the drought-tolerant legume your farm is missing.

At LoginEKO, we’ve embraced organic chickpea farming for its resilience and sustainability. In this article, we’ll walk you through the critical first step in chickpea cultivation: seedbed preparation.

For a complete walkthrough, jump straight to the video.

Why Chickpeas Are Perfect for Organic Farming

Chickpeas are one of the most drought-tolerant legumes you can grow, making them a great choice for regions like ours. Unlike beans and soybeans, chickpeas don’t require constant irrigation, and they’re more resilient to dry conditions.

While chickpeas are not as efficient in fixing nitrogen as peas or broad beans, they do offer significant advantages for sustainable farming, particularly in crop rotation.

In terms of soil, organic chickpeas thrive in non-acidic soils. That’s why we make sure to place them on plots where our soil pH is above 5.5.

Seedbed Preparation: The Key to Organic Chickpea Farming Success

Seedbed preparation is critical for achieving even sprouting of chickpeas, especially on heavy clay soils like ours. Our soil, which has a 55-65% clay content, dries slowly and can be challenging to work with. To tackle this, we start with subsoiling in the winter to break up compacted layers and then move to the first seedbed preparation in spring. This stage helps the soil dry, warm up, and become easier to work with.

While we don’t expect a perfectly level field right away, this process is essential to ensure optimal conditions for chickpea sowing. By preparing the soil properly, we also help with early weed control.

Choosing the Right Equipment for Seedbed Preparation

In organic chickpea farming, choosing the right equipment is key to minimizing weed pressure without using harmful chemicals. Instead of a harrow, which would let too many weeds through, we rely on the Väderstad NZ Aggressive seedbed cultivator, which loosens the soil and effectively controls weeds. This equipment helps break up clods, level the soil, and prepare it for sowing, ensuring that the chickpeas have the best chance to grow strong without competition from weeds.

The Right Timing for Seedbed Preparation in Organic Chickpea Farming

Timing is crucial when it comes to sowing chickpeas. The first seedbed preparation is done early in the spring, but it’s important to wait for the soil to dry enough to avoid soil compaction. The second seedbed preparation happens just one or two days before sowing, ensuring that all weeds are destroyed and the soil is ready for planting.

We use a precision seeder, the Väderstad Tempo V12, for accurate planting at a depth of 5-7 cm, ensuring we reach our target of 440,000 plants per hectare.

Weed Control Without Chemicals: Mechanical Methods for Organic Chickpea Farming

Weeds can be a serious threat to chickpea crops, especially in organic farming where no synthetic pesticides are allowed.

At LoginEKO, we rely on mechanical weed control, especially during the early growth stages of chickpeas. We use the Aerostar Rotation machine, which targets surface-level weeds without disturbing the delicate chickpea seedlings. It uproots smaller weeds and prevents larger ones from taking over, giving the chickpeas a head start in the growing season.

This machine also helps close furrows and level the soil, ensuring the seeds are properly planted for even germination. It’s an essential tool for managing weeds and ensuring a healthy chickpea crop.

The Sustainable Crop for Your Farm

Organic chickpea farming is a perfect fit for regions with dry conditions. With proper seedbed preparation, the right equipment, and mechanical weed control, chickpeas can thrive on your farm while contributing to long-term soil health. By adopting best practices and focusing on sustainability, we can make chickpeas a staple in Serbia’s organic farming landscape.

Want to see more about how we grow chickpeas and manage the entire process from seedbed preparation to weed control? Check out our video and let us walk you through each step of the process.