What is the importance of leguminous plants
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Legumes are plants that have nodules that contain rhizobia bacteria. These bacteria have the ability to fix/ incorporate free atmospheric nitrogen into the soil. This they do by converting the nitrogen in the atmosphere into nitrates and nitrites that can be used up as plant nutrients. The legumes are thus very important plants in the field in providing nitrogen nutrient in the soil.
Crops such as cereals or grass plants,on the other hand, do not have this ability of fixing nitrogen into the soil. Therefore, what happens is that the cereals depend on either nitrogen that has been fixed by leguminous plants in the soil or from nitrogenous fertilizers.
This is why farmers usually plant leguminous plants with other non leguminous plants such as grass plants, that the grass plants may benefit from the nitrogen fixed by the leguminous plants.
Crops such as cereals or grass plants,on the other hand, do not have this ability of fixing nitrogen into the soil. Therefore, what happens is that the cereals depend on either nitrogen that has been fixed by leguminous plants in the soil or from nitrogenous fertilizers.
This is why farmers usually plant leguminous plants with other non leguminous plants such as grass plants, that the grass plants may benefit from the nitrogen fixed by the leguminous plants.
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To understand the importance of leguminous plants/crops you need to understand the concept of crop rotation as a method of farming.
Crop rotation is a method of farming where varying crops are successively planted on the same ground/field one after the other. The aim is to avoid depleting the soil and control soil structure and fertility. It increases biomass through the varying root structure of the different crops planted successively.
The importance of leguminous plants is that these crops have nodules which are symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria. This is good for the soil because the bacteria fix atmosphere nitrogen into the soil which increases the natural level of soil nitrogen, this is vital for plant growth. Leguminous plants are particularly important because they prevent soil deterioration through crop rotation thereby ensuring healthy crops for the farmer.
Crop rotation is a method of farming where varying crops are successively planted on the same ground/field one after the other. The aim is to avoid depleting the soil and control soil structure and fertility. It increases biomass through the varying root structure of the different crops planted successively.
The importance of leguminous plants is that these crops have nodules which are symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria. This is good for the soil because the bacteria fix atmosphere nitrogen into the soil which increases the natural level of soil nitrogen, this is vital for plant growth. Leguminous plants are particularly important because they prevent soil deterioration through crop rotation thereby ensuring healthy crops for the farmer.
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