OFRF Farmer-Led Trials: Mesquite Bean Meal as Soil Amendment
Kay Bell, Passion Garden
Farm Trial Overview
Kay Bell is the farmer/owner of Passion Garden, a three-acre farm in Waco, TX. A long-standing consideration in her fertility plan has been the utilization of locally harvested mesquite tree bean pods. Driven by her commitment to community well-being, she researched the mesquite bean’s nutritional composition, finding it to be high in protein and rich in various other nutrients. Given the tree’s prevalence on her property and the relative ease of harvesting the pods, Kay believed mesquite bean meal (MBM) could be a valuable amendment for enhancing her soil health. To create the MBM, Kay harvested the pods, and used a simple mill to grind them so that they were in an easy to use powder format.
This Farmer-Led Trial evaluated the effect of an MBM soil amendment on ‘Celebrity’ tomato yields. Kay prepared eight raised beds, each measuring 4 feet wide by 8 feet long, in keeping with Kay’s space limitations. At the time of transplanting, the four treatment raised beds received ½ cup of the MBM.
Kay recorded tomato yields and made observations around plant health, pest pressure, and any plant losses that might impact the findings for the trial. Data suggest that tomato yields were slightly higher in plots receiving the MBM amendment, and that there may be a benefit to utilizing the MBM in tomatoes.
For full details on the study’s methodology and results, check out the OFRF Farmer Led Trials Blog, or read the final report linked here.
Funding Amount
$1,500
Funding Year
2025Location
Waco, Texas
Collaborators
Organic Farming Research Foundation
Key Findings
- Sample size in the trial was small, however, the analysis revealed a significant difference in yield between the control and meal treatment, with the treatment receiving the MBM having a positive impact on yield in both the total yield and marketable yield.
- Kay observed improved water drainage and thinks that the MBM helped improve the drainage in her clay soils. She also noted increased presence of worms and other soil organisms, and she speculates that the natural sugars in the MBM help attract more soil invertebrates.
Region
West/Southwest
Topic
Soil Health, Crop Nutrient Management
Category
Vegetables/Fruits
Year Published
2025
