Legume Performance in the Foloi Region (Western Greece): A First Step for Agricultural Revitalization in the Plateau

Legume cultivation offers a chance for agricultural development on lands that have been abandoned over the years. In this study, simple agronomic indicators on the growth and yield of faba bean (Vicia faba L.), pea (Pisum sativum L.), and white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) were assessed on the abandoned agricultural lands of Foloi Plateau in Western Greece. Field trials were conducted from October 2023 to July 2025, and the legumes were grown either according to the false seedbed concept or with conventional seedbed preparation practices (direct sowing). The false seedbed involves pre-sowing weed control following initial seedbed preparation, and in these trials, it suppressed weed density by 62–77%. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) of faba bean and pea increased by 13% on the false seedbed plots, while white lupin NDVI was not affected by treatments (p ≥ 0.05). Destructive crop biomass measurements were in accordance with NDVI assessments. Faba bean and pea seed yield demonstrated an increase of 17% and 23%, respectively, in the false seedbed plots compared to direct sowing plots. White lupin seed yield was not significantly affected by false seedbed (p ≥ 0.05). This study provides preliminary evidence supporting the use of legume crops as a component of sustainable agricultural revitalization in the Foloi region. However, further research is required to optimize legume cultivation on the abandoned lands of the wider region as a first step towards the agricultural revitalization in the Plateau.