Legumes
Legumes are a major group of agricultural crops belonging to the Fabaceae family. These plants are essential for global food security and sustainable agriculture due to their high protein content and unique capacity to improve soil nitrogen levels through symbiotic bacteria.
What the section contains
Large-flower clover
Trifolium grandiflorum
Large-flowered broom
Cytisus grandiflorus
Large-fruited milkvetch
Astragalus macrocarpus
Lathyrus cassius
Lathyrus cassius
Lathyrus chrysanthus
Lathyrus chrysanthus
Lathyrus ciliolatus
Lathyrus ciliolatus
Lathyrus digitatus
Lathyrus digitatus
Lathyrus filiformis
Lathyrus filiformis
Lathyrus gloeospermus
Lathyrus gloeospermus
Lathyrus golanensis
Lathyrus golanensis
Lathyrus humilis
Lathyrus humilis
Lathyrus incurvus
Lathyrus incurvus
Lathyrus lanszwertii
Lathyrus lanszwertii
Lathyrus laxiflorus
Lathyrus laxiflorus
Lathyrus pallescens
Lathyrus pallescens
Lathyrus plitmannii
Lathyrus plitmannii
Lathyrus pseudocicera
Lathyrus pseudocicera
Lathyrus quinquenervius
Lathyrus quinquenervius
Lathyrus roseus
Lathyrus roseus
Lathyrus spathulatus
Lathyrus spathulatus
Lathyrus sphaericus
Lathyrus sphaericus
Lathyrus tremolsianus
Lathyrus tremolsianus
Lathyrus venetus
Lathyrus venetus
Leadplant
Amorpha canescens
Lebanese broom
Genista libanotica
Lembotropis
Lembotropis
Lentil
Lens Mill.
3 items
Lentil
Vicia lens
Lentil
Lens
3 items
Lentil-like vetch
Lathyrus lentiformis
Leonardoxa
Leonardoxa
1 item
Leptoderris
Leptoderris
1 item
Leptolobium
Leptolobium
1 item
Lespedeza
Lespedeza Michx.
5 items
Lespedeza
Lespedeza
19 items
Leucaena
Leucaena
3 items
Leucaena lanceolata
Leucaena lanceolata
Leucaena pulverulenta
Leucaena pulverulenta
Leucaena trichodes
Leucaena trichodes
Libidibia
Libidibia
5 items
Licorice
Glycyrrhiza
4 items
Ligurian clover
Trifolium ligusticum
Lilac fenugreek
Trigonella lilacina
Lima bean
Phaseolus pallar
Linden-leaved tick-trefoil
Desmodium tiliifolium
Little burr clover
Medicago minima
Logwood
Haematoxylum
1 item
Lonchocarpus
Lonchocarpus
14 items
Long-leaved milkvetch
Astragalus dolichophyllus
Longbeak rattlebox
Crotalaria longirostrata
Longstalk clover
Trifolium longipes
Lotononis
Lotononis
1 item
Lotononis angolensis
Lotononis angolensis
Lotononis genistoides
Lotononis genistoides
Lotononis listii
Lotononis listii
Lotononis lupinifolia
Lotononis lupinifolia
Lotononis micrantha
Lotononis micrantha
Lotononis platycarpa
Lotononis platycarpa
Lotus arabicus
Lotus arabicus
Lotus azoricus
Lotus azoricus
Legumes
Originating from diverse regions across the globe, legumes have been cultivated for thousands of years. Today, they are grown worldwide in various climatic zones, serving as a staple crop in both traditional farming systems and modern industrial agriculture.
Botanically, legumes are characterized by their fruit, known as a pod, and their ability to form nodules on their roots. These nodules house specific bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into nutrients, which helps reduce the reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.
The agronomic requirements for legumes include well-drained soil and moderate moisture during the growing season. Proper field preparation and the inoculation of seeds with specific rhizobia strains are standard practices to ensure optimal nodulation and subsequent crop yields.
Legumes are used for human consumption, livestock feed, and green manure. Effective management involves monitoring common pests like aphids and weevils, as well as managing fungal diseases through crop rotation and appropriate fungicide application when necessary.
- High concentration of plant-based protein.
- Significant role in biological nitrogen fixation.
- Improvement of soil fertility and structure.
- Versatile use in food and feed industries.
- Adaptability to a wide range of agro-ecological zones.