Enhancing grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.) production in problematic soils of South Asia for nutritional security

Abstract

Grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.) a multi-purpose, climate
smart legume crop which can sustain drought, waterlogging and salinity, and can be grown under minimal
external inputs. It is grown on about one million ha area in
South Asia mainly in rice-based cropping system. Global
area under its cultivation has decreased because of ban on
its trade in many countries due to its association with
neurolathyrism, a non-reversible neurological disorder in
humans and animals due to consumption of a neurotoxin,
β-N-oxalyl-L-α, β-di amino propionic acid (β-ODAP) present
in its plant parts. Resource-poor farmers and tribal people
are still growing to supplement their diet with traditional
varieties. Traditionally, its seed and twigs are used for human
consumption and fodder and plant residues as animal feed.
It has a great potential for cultivation in areas where other
field crops cannot be grown due to soil problems. It
provides an excellent opportunity for sustainable
agriculture and nutritional security to resource poor farmers
and consumers of South-Asian countries. Breeding efforts
are underway on reducing ODAP content in its plant parts
and yield improvement to provide a remunerative crop for
safe consumption. The crop has a specific production niche
where it is grown as a relay crop in rice fields, thus no
tillage operations are required which reduces its cost of
production.