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
Lotus biflorus
Lotus biflorus
Lotus castellanus
Lotus castellanus
Lotus conimbricensis
Lotus conimbricensis
Lotus conjugatus
Lotus conjugatus
Lotus creticus
Lotus creticus
Lotus cruentus
Lotus cruentus
Lotus cytisoides
Lotus cytisoides
Lotus delortii
Lotus delortii
Lotus elisabethae
Lotus elisabethae
Lotus fulgurans
Lotus fulgurans
Lotus gebelia
Lotus gebelia
Lotus glareosus
Lotus glareosus
Lotus glinoides
Lotus glinoides
Lotus hispidus
Lotus hispidus
Lotus lancerrotensis
Lotus lancerrotensis
Lotus longisiliquosus
Lotus longisiliquosus
Lotus macranthus
Lotus macranthus
Lotus maritimus
Lotus maritimus
Lotus peregrinus
Lotus peregrinus
Lotus preslii
Lotus preslii
Lotus tetraphyllus
Lotus tetraphyllus
Lowe's trefoil
Lotus loweanus
Lucanian clover
Trifolium lucanicum
Luetzelburgia
Luetzelburgia
1 item
Lumpy clover
Trifolium pilulare
Lupine clover
Trifolium lupinaster
Lupinus aridorum
Lupinus aridorum
Lupinus comptus
Lupinus comptus
Lupinus crotalarioides
Lupinus crotalarioides
Lupinus diffusus
Lupinus diffusus
Lupinus formosus
Lupinus formosus
Lupinus hirsutissimus
Lupinus hirsutissimus
Lupinus laxiflorus
Lupinus laxiflorus
Lupinus leucophyllus
Lupinus leucophyllus
Lupinus microcarpus
Lupinus microcarpus
Lupinus pubescens
Lupinus pubescens
Lupinus pusillus
Lupinus pusillus
Lupinus sparsiflorus
Lupinus sparsiflorus
Lupinus subsessilis
Lupinus subsessilis
Lydia broom
Genista lydia
Lysidice
Lysidice
1 item
Lysiloma
Lysiloma
1 item
Lysiloma sabicu
Lysiloma sabicu
Lysiloma watsonii
Lysiloma watsonii
Lysiphyllum
Lysiphyllum
3 items
Maackia
Maackia
1 item
Maackia fauriei
Maackia fauriei
Maackia honanensis
Maackia honanensis
Maackia tashiroi
Maackia tashiroi
Maackia tenuifolia
Maackia tenuifolia
Machaerium
Machaerium
16 items
Macrae's clover
Trifolium macraei
Macrolobium
Macrolobium
2 items
Macroptilium longepedunculatum
Macroptilium longepedunculatum
Macrotyloma
Macrotyloma
2 items
Macrotyloma brevicaule
Macrotyloma brevicaule
Macrotyloma ciliatum
Macrotyloma ciliatum
Macrotyloma daltonii
Macrotyloma daltonii
Macrotyloma geocarpum
Macrotyloma geocarpum
Macrotyloma maranguense
Macrotyloma maranguense
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.