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
Canary broom
Genista canariensis
Canary Island broom
Cytisus filipes
Canavalia
Canavalia
2 items
Canavalia africana
Canavalia africana
Canavalia cathartica
Canavalia cathartica
Canavalia plagiosperma
Canavalia plagiosperma
Canavalia sericea
Canavalia sericea
Canavalia villosa
Canavalia villosa
Canavalia virosa
Canavalia virosa
Cantabrian broom
Cytisus cantabricus
Caragana
Caragana Fabr.
1 item
Caragana
Caragana
26 items
Carmichaelia
Carmichaelia
11 items
Carolina clover
Trifolium carolinianum
Carolina vetch
Vicia caroliniana
Caspian locust
Gleditsia caspica
Cassia
Cassia
4 items
Cassia afrofistula
Cassia afrofistula
Cassia arereh
Cassia arereh
Cassia auriculata
Cassia auriculata
Cassia bacillaris
Cassia bacillaris
Cassia bakerana
Cassia bakerana
Cassia bauhinioides
Cassia bauhinioides
Cassia brewsteri
Cassia brewsteri
Cassia coronilloides
Cassia coronilloides
Cassia eremophila
Cassia eremophila
Cassia gracilior
Cassia gracilior
Cassia hirta
Cassia hirta
Cassia hispidula
Cassia hispidula
Cassia holosericea
Cassia holosericea
Cassia hybrids
Cassia hybrids
Cassia javanica
Cassia javanica
Cassia leiophylla
Cassia leiophylla
Cassia leschenaultiana
Cassia leschenaultiana
Cassia mannii
Cassia mannii
Cassia marksiana
Cassia marksiana
Cassia mimosoides
Cassia mimosoides
Cassia moschata
Cassia moschata
Cassia nealii
Cassia nealii
Cassia nemophila
Cassia nemophila
Cassia newtonii
Cassia newtonii
Cassia nigricans
Cassia nigricans
Cassia nomame
Cassia nomame
Cassia nutans
Cassia nutans
Cassia patellaria
Cassia patellaria
Cassia planitiicola
Cassia planitiicola
Cassia pleurocarpa
Cassia pleurocarpa
Cassia quarrei
Cassia quarrei
Cassia reticulata
Cassia reticulata
Cassia robiniaefolia
Cassia robiniaefolia
Cassia roxburghii
Cassia roxburghii
Cassia sieberiana
Cassia sieberiana
Cassia stenocarpa
Cassia stenocarpa
Cassia uniflora
Cassia uniflora
Cassubian vetch
Vicia cassubica
Castanospermum
Castanospermum
Castanospermum australe
Castanospermum australe
Catclaw mimosa
Mimosa biuncifera
Caucasian sainfoin
Hedysarum caucasicum
Caven acacia
Vachellia caven
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.