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.
Main sections
What the section contains
Wooton's locoweed
Astragalus wootonii
Wormskjold's clover
Trifolium wormskjoldii
Wyeth lupine
Lupinus wyethii
Xeroderris
Xeroderris
1 item
Xylia
Xylia
1 item
Yellow alfalfa
Medicago falcata
Yellow bell bauhinia
Bauhinia tomentosa
Yellow lupin
Lupinus luteolus
Yellow restharrow
Ononis natrix
Yellow sweet clover
Melilotus dentatus
Yellowwood
Cladrastis lutea
Yucatan caesalpinia
Caesalpinia yucatanensis
Yunnan licorice
Glycyrrhiza yunnanensis
Zapoteca
Zapoteca
4 items
Zenia
Zenia
1 item
Zollernia
Zollernia
2 items
Zornia
Zornia
15 items
Zygia
Zygia
4 items
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.