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
Spring vetchling
Lathyrus vernus
Spurred Butterfly Pea
Clitoria mariana
Spurred vetch
Vicia monantha
Staminodianthus
Staminodianthus
1 item
Star fenugreek
Trigonella stellata
Star milkvetch
Astragalus stella
Starry clover
Trifolium stellatum
Stauracanthus
Stauracanthus
3 items
Sticky restharrow
Ononis viscosa
Stiff tick-trefoil
Desmodium obtusum
Stinking milkvetch
Astragalus praelongus
Stivers' lupine
Lupinus stiversii
Strict clover
Trifolium strictum
Striped broom
Cytisus striatus
Strombocarpa
Strombocarpa
8 items
Strongylodon
Strongylodon
2 items
Strophostyles
Strophostyles
2 items
Stryphnodendron
Stryphnodendron
3 items
Sturt's Desert Cassia
Cassia sturtii
Stylosanthes
Stylosanthes Sw.
9 items
Stylosanthes
Stylosanthes
3 items
Styphnolobium
Styphnolobium
1 item
Subalpine vetchling
Lathyrus subalpinus
Succulent lupine
Lupinus succulentus
Suckling clover
Trifolium micranthum
Sucupira
Bowdichia
1 item
Suffocated clover
Trifolium suffocatum
Sulfur-yellow pea
Lathyrus sulphureus
Sutherlandia
Sutherlandia
1 item
Swainsona
Swainsona Salisb.
1 item
Swainsona
Swainsona
4 items
Swartzia
Swartzia
6 items
Sweet fenugreek
Trigonella suavissima
Sweet milk-vetch
Astragalus glycyphyllos
Sweetclover
Melilotus
7 items
Sweetia
Sweetia
2 items
Swollen clover
Trifolium physodes
Sympetalandra
Sympetalandra
1 item
Syrian fenugreek
Trigonella caelesyriaca
Tachigali
Tachigali
3 items
Tadehagi
Tadehagi
2 items
Tailcup lupine
Lupinus caudatus
Tall melilot
Melilotus altissimus
Tamarind
Tamarindus
1 item
Tara
Caesalpinia spinosa
Tara
Tara
1 item
Taralea
Taralea
1 item
Tawny pea
Pisum fulvum
Tembien clover
Trifolium tembense
Templetonia
Templetonia R. Br.
1 item
Templetonia
Templetonia
Tephrosia
Tephrosia
3 items
Tephrosia berhautiana
Tephrosia berhautiana
Tephrosia bracteolata
Tephrosia bracteolata
Tephrosia brevipes
Tephrosia brevipes
Tephrosia caerulea
Tephrosia caerulea
Tephrosia chrysophylla
Tephrosia chrysophylla
Tephrosia cinerea
Tephrosia cinerea
Tephrosia decora
Tephrosia decora
Tephrosia ehrenbergiana
Tephrosia ehrenbergiana
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.