Question
Hi,
I already planted favabeams and snappeas in an orchard of pomegranate and avocados as I heard it helps with available N.
I was told however that chickpeas would carry diseases, mostly fungal, to the orchard. Is this true?/
Also, is growing edamame (soybeans) in the pomegranate/avocado orchard a good idea?
Thanks.
Tony

Answer
Legumes provide added nitrogen since bacteria in their roots fix nitrogen.  I cannot imagine that the chick peas would carry diseases to the orchard.  In most cases, plant pathogens have restricted host ranges and the pathogens on legumes would not spread to pecans.  As long as you are buying seed from a reputable source, I would not expect the legumes to cause any disease problems.

In most cases when cover crops are used, the entire plant is tilled into the soil at the end of the season.  Since this is under an orchard, it would not be possible to till it in.  I would suggest mowing the plants at the end of the season.  I have not heard of anyone using coybeans, snappeas etc.  In most cases, people use a plant such as hairy vetch.  With this plant, the nitrogen has been useful and allowed for yield increases in the orchard.