Lyciums, these ordinary plants, exist in our farmlands and vegetable gardens, have the powerful ability to change the quality of the soil.During the growth process, beans are fixed from the air through symbiotic relationship with rhizobia, thereby improving the fertility of the soil. This process is not only crucial for the growth of beans itself, but also lays the foundation for subsequent crops. Have a good soil foundation.Understanding how these tiny seeds transform the soil will help us better use these plants to improve agricultural productivity and achieve sustainable development.
Many legumes contain symbiotic bacteria called Rhizobia, which are able to convert nitrogen in the atmosphere into ammonia, which is the key to improving crop growth.
Legumes are part of the legume family (Fabaceae), including many crops such as red beans, chickpeas, peanuts, lentils, etc.Not only are they the main food source for humans, they are also used as feed and green manure for livestock, with abundant nitrogen fixation capabilities.This characteristic makes beans play an important role in agricultural crop rotation.
During the development of legumes, the root system will form a special structure called nodule.Rhizobia in the nodules is able to fix nitrogen in the atmosphere into a form that can be absorbed by plants, a process that shows why legumes are so critical in soil improvement and improving crop yields.
The nodules of legumes are not only nitrogen reservoirs. When these plants die, the nitrogen remaining in the soil will be released to supply subsequent crop growth.
In many traditional and organic agricultural practices, rotation or diversified cultivation of legume crops is a common practice, which not only increases the nitrogen content of the soil, but also reduces dependence on chemical fertilizers.Take Sri Lankan coconut-soybean intermediary as an example, this method improves soil fertility by combining coconut trees with beans.
Such crop rotation methods usually give good growth in the short term, while in the long run, it promotes soil health and reduces pesticide use.
The cultivation of legume crops not only enriches the nitrogen in the soil, but also helps to enhance the organic matter in the soil, thereby promoting the healthy development of the ecosystem.
The benefits of legumes are not only reflected in soil improvement, but also an excellent source of protein.For example, 100 grams of cooked chickpeas contain about 18% of daily protein needs, as well as rich in dietary fiber and a variety of minerals.For those who pursue a healthy diet, beans are not only a delicious ingredient, but also a nutritious choice.
As the market demand for plant-based proteins increases, the popularity of legumes is also steadily increasing.Bean products consumption in Europe increased by 39% between 2013 and 2017 alone.This trend not only enriches people's diet, but also promotes the production and consumption of beans.
The diversity of beans not only enhances our dietary choices, but also makes them a place in the promotion of healthy ingredients around the world.
Beans can not only serve as a main food source, but also play a crucial role in sustainable agriculture.Its ability to fix nitrogen makes legumes irreplaceable in protecting soil and improving farmland productivity.Today, when the world is facing the challenges of declining soil fertility and agricultural sustainability, how to use these small seeds to change the soil should become the focus of our thinking.
As the increasing attention to sustainable development, the research and application of legume crops is particularly important.This requires not only the efforts of farmers, but also the participation of policy makers, research institutions and consumers to ensure that the potential of beans in agriculture is fully realized.
In this rapidly changing world, there are still many challenges and opportunities in the application and development of beans.We need to think about how to further explore the role of beans in future agriculture, so that these small seeds can truly change our soil and our lives?