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.
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What the section contains
Senna sophera
Senna sophera
Senna sulfurea
Senna sulfurea
Senna surattensis
Senna surattensis
Senna timoriensis
Senna timoriensis
Sensitive partridge pea
Chamaecrista nictitans
Serianthes
Serianthes
6 items
Serrated restharrow
Ononis serrata
Sesame milkvetch
Astragalus sesameus
Sesbania
Sesbania
3 items
Sesbania benthamiana
Sesbania benthamiana
Sesbania bispinosa
Sesbania bispinosa
Sesbania brevipedunculata
Sesbania brevipedunculata
Sesbania dalzielli
Sesbania dalzielli
Sesbania drummondii
Sesbania drummondii
Sesbania dummeri
Sesbania dummeri
Sesbania exasperata
Sesbania exasperata
Sesbania grandiflora
Sesbania grandiflora
Sesbania hepperi
Sesbania hepperi
Sesbania javanica
Sesbania javanica
Sesbania leptocarpa
Sesbania leptocarpa
Sesbania longifolia
Sesbania longifolia
Sesbania macrantha
Sesbania macrantha
Sesbania madagascariensis
Sesbania madagascariensis
Sesbania microphylla
Sesbania microphylla
Sesbania pachycarpa
Sesbania pachycarpa
Sesbania procumbens
Sesbania procumbens
Sesbania rostrata
Sesbania rostrata
Sesbania sericea
Sesbania sericea
Sesbania simpliuscula
Sesbania simpliuscula
Sesbania speciosa
Sesbania speciosa
Sesbania sudanica
Sesbania sudanica
Sesbania tetraptera
Sesbania tetraptera
Sesbania vesicaria
Sesbania vesicaria
Sesbania virgata
Sesbania virgata
Sessile-leaf tick-trefoil
Desmodium sessilifolium
Sessile-leaved broom
Cytisus sessilifolius
Sharp-leaf vetch
Vicia acutifolia
Sheldon's milkvetch
Astragalus sheldonii
Shield clover
Trifolium clypeatum
Shield clover
Trifolium scutatum
Shrubby milkvetch
Astragalus fruticosus
Shrubby restharrow
Ononis fruticosa
Shrubby scorpion-vetch
Coronilla valentina
Shuteria
Shuteria
3 items
Siberian broom
Genista sibirica
Sibthorp's vetch
Vicia sibthorpii
Sicilian vetch
Vicia sicula
Sickle milkvetch
Astragalus falcatus
Sickle-fruited trefoil
Lotus drepanocarpus
Silk Rosewood
Dalbergia sericea
Silky Genista
Genista sericea
Silky lupine
Lupinus sericeus
Silky milkvetch
Astragalus bombycinus
Silky-leaved milkvetch
Astragalus sericophyllus
Silver birdsfoot trefoil
Lotus argyrodes
Silver bush lupine
Lupinus albifrons
Silver cassia
Cassia artemisioides
Silver Glycine
Glycine argyrea
Silver gorse
Ulex argenteus
Silver indigo
Indigofera argentea
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.