Define Leguminous Crops

Answer:

Legumes are the plants belonging to the family of Fabaceae (or Leguminosae). These plants are grown agriculturally and are mainly used for human consumption. Some popular legumes include beans, soya beans, peas, peanuts, lentils, peanuts and clover. 

The height of the leguminous crops varies. Some are trees, some are shrubs and some are not even 10 cm in height.  Despite the differences in height, all leguminous crops have some features in common. These are:

• Every leguminous crop takes the nitrogen from the air despite taking the nitrogen from the soil. They do not compete for the nitrogen with other crops and even release the nitrogen into the soil if not used up by them
• The fruit produced by the leguminous crops are always pods 
• Their roots are in the form of taps which penetrate into a depth of 1.50 meters
• Their leaves are compound leaves and have numerous small leaflets
• Their flowers of leguminous crops are similar to the flower of bean or groundnut in shape 

The most interesting and unique features of leguminous crops are that they trap the nitrogen present in the atmosphere. These crops possess small swellings in their roots known as nodules. In these nodules, bacteria are present. They live in a symbiotic relationship with the plants. 

These bacteria fix the atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates and supplies to the pant. In return, these bacteria feed on the sugar and starch of the plants. 

Each nodule of the plant function for only two weeks and afterward it dies, releasing the trapped nitrogen into the soil, thus enriching it.