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Reference · Crops

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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Sindora14 Smithia5 Spatholobus4 Spiny restharrow4 Sophora3 Sphenostylis3 Soybean2 Soemmeringia1 Spanish broom1
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Silver sainfoin Onobrychis argentea Silver-leaf velvet bean Mucuna argyrophylla Silvery lupine Lupinus argenteus Sindora Sindora 14 items Single-flowered clover Trifolium uniflorum Sintra restharrow Ononis cintrana Slender-podded senna Cassia leptocarpa Small-flowered bird's-foot trefoil Lotus parviflorus Small-flowered gorse Ulex parviflorus Small-flowered lupine Lupinus micranthus Small-leaf alfalfa Medicago medicaginoides Smithia Smithia 5 items Smooth false indigo Amorpha glabra Smooth vetchling Lathyrus laevigatus Smyrna fenugreek Trigonella smyrnea Snake fenugreek Trigonella anguina Soemmeringia Soemmeringia 1 item Solander's Milk-vetch Astragalus solandri Sophora Sophora L. 3 items Sophora affinis Sophora affinis Sophora alopecuroides Sophora alopecuroides Sophora cassioides Sophora cassioides Sophora denudata Sophora denudata Sophora flavescens Sophora flavescens Sophora hybrids Sophora hybrids Sophora macrocarpa Sophora macrocarpa Sophora mollis Sophora mollis Sophora nuttalliana Sophora nuttaliana Sophora oligophylla Sophora oligophylla Sophora pachycarpa Sophora pachycarpa Sophora tetraptera Sophora tetraptera Sophora toromiro Sophora toromiro Southern gorse Ulex australis Soybean Glycine 2 items Spach broom Cytisus spachianus Spanish broom Spartium L. 1 item Spanish broom Genista florida Spanish broom (mountain) Cytisus oromediterraneus Spanish lupin Lupinus hispanicus Sparse-flowered vetch Vicia sparsiflora Spatholobus Spatholobus 4 items Spatulate-leaved milkvetch Astragalus spatulatus Sphaerophysa Sphaerophysa Sphenostylis Sphenostylis 3 items Spiny broom Calicotome infesta Spiny broom Calicotome villosa Spiny broom Genista acanthoides Spiny broom Genista hystrix Spiny Cassia Cassia aculeata Spiny Fenugreek Trigonella spinosa Spiny Indigo Indigofera spinosa Spiny restharrow Ononis 4 items Spiny restharrow Ononis pinnata Spiny restharrow Ononis hirta Spiny sainfoin Onobrychis supina Spiny tragacanth Astragalus arnacantha Spotted milkvetch Astragalus guttatus Spreading clover Trifolium diffusum Spreading clover Trifolium patulum Spring vetch Vicia lathyroides

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.