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Agronomy
Volume 15
Issue 11
10.3390/agronomy15112473
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Forage Potential of Faba Bean By-Products: A Comprehensive Analysis of Proximate Nutrients, Mineral Content, Bioactive Components, and Antioxidant Activities

by
Shucheng Duan
1,†,
Soon-Jae Kwon
2,†,
Ji Won Kim
3,
Ji Hye Kim
1,
Jeong Woo Lee
2,
Min-Seok Kim
4,
Moo-Yeol Baik
4,‡ and
Seok Hyun Eom
1,3,*
1
Graduate School of GreenBio Science, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea
2
Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup 56212, Republic of Korea
3
Department of Smart Farm Science, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea
4
Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Institute of Life Science and Resources, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
‡
The author contributed to this work as co-correspondent author.
Agronomy 2025, 15(11), 2473; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112473 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 24 September 2025 / Revised: 21 October 2025 / Accepted: 23 October 2025 / Published: 24 October 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cover Crops and Forage in Nutrient Cycling and Their Utilization in Integrated Crop–Livestock Systems)
Versions Notes

Abstract

The global feed gap, driven by seasonal shortages and climate change, highlights the need for novel forage resources. Vicia faba (Faba bean) produces substantial above-ground biomass as residue after fresh pod harvest, which remains underutilized. This study comprehensively evaluated the forage potential of faba bean leaves and stems across three growth stages: flowering (S1), pod development (S2), and ripening (S3). Dry matter content peaked at S2 in both tissues, while crude protein and fat content were highest at S1; carbohydrate levels increased progressively with maturation. Significant mineral concentrations, particularly K, Ca, and Mg, were detected, with leaves at S2 showing higher ash (i.e., mineral) content. Bioactive compounds (L-dopa, flavonols, total phenolics, and flavonoids) and antioxidant activities were most abundant at S1, with strong positive correlations between phenolics and antioxidant activities. Overall, faba bean residues offer proximate nutritional profiles comparable to traditional forages such as alfalfa and clover, while providing superior antioxidant potential. Their incorporation into animal feed systems before S3 could help mitigate seasonal forage shortages and enhance the nutritional quality of livestock diets.
Keywords: feed; Vicia faba L.; agricultural waste; growth stage; phenolics feed; Vicia faba L.; agricultural waste; growth stage; phenolics

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MDPI and ACS Style

Duan, S.; Kwon, S.-J.; Kim, J.W.; Kim, J.H.; Lee, J.W.; Kim, M.-S.; Baik, M.-Y.; Eom, S.H. Forage Potential of Faba Bean By-Products: A Comprehensive Analysis of Proximate Nutrients, Mineral Content, Bioactive Components, and Antioxidant Activities. Agronomy 2025, 15, 2473. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112473

AMA Style

Duan S, Kwon S-J, Kim JW, Kim JH, Lee JW, Kim M-S, Baik M-Y, Eom SH. Forage Potential of Faba Bean By-Products: A Comprehensive Analysis of Proximate Nutrients, Mineral Content, Bioactive Components, and Antioxidant Activities. Agronomy. 2025; 15(11):2473. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112473

Chicago/Turabian Style

Duan, Shucheng, Soon-Jae Kwon, Ji Won Kim, Ji Hye Kim, Jeong Woo Lee, Min-Seok Kim, Moo-Yeol Baik, and Seok Hyun Eom. 2025. "Forage Potential of Faba Bean By-Products: A Comprehensive Analysis of Proximate Nutrients, Mineral Content, Bioactive Components, and Antioxidant Activities" Agronomy 15, no. 11: 2473. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112473

APA Style

Duan, S., Kwon, S.-J., Kim, J. W., Kim, J. H., Lee, J. W., Kim, M.-S., Baik, M.-Y., & Eom, S. H. (2025). Forage Potential of Faba Bean By-Products: A Comprehensive Analysis of Proximate Nutrients, Mineral Content, Bioactive Components, and Antioxidant Activities. Agronomy, 15(11), 2473. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112473

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