Question

Why are leguminous plants useful for maintaining soil fertility?

Answer 1

Leguminous plants are plants that are commonly known as legume, pea or bean family that have a large importance. This category includes lots of trees, shrubs, herbs etc. These are plants that produce some beans, peas and lentils. Examples of leguminous plants are; Fava beans, Black beans etc.

Complete answer:
As we know about the basic introduction of leguminous plants let’s see how they are useful in maintaining soil fertility.
Legume plants and seed tissue have high protein levels in it. Legume plants have the ability to supply most of its own nitrogen needs with the help of symbiotic. Nitrogen is first chemically combined with other elements present before plants can use it for their growth. Rhizobium bacteria that is present in the roots of legumes convert the atmospheric nitrogen so that it can be used by plants. This bacteria enters the roots of legumes where it forms the nodules. In the plants this bacteria converts nitrogen gas into nitrogenous compounds. Plants and bacteria are in a symbiotic relationship with each other. In this plant benefits the rhizobium bacteria by supplying sugars and in return bacteria benefits the plants by providing soluble nitrogen.
To prevent soil erosion and to control spread of disease that are soil-borne plant disease different crops are grown in the same field. Leguminous plants add nitrate to the soil that is very useful in maintaining soil fertility. And hence, we can produce good products from a soil that has good fertility in it.

Note: A legume is a plant from the family Fabaceae. Leguminous plants are grown for agriculture purpose, for livestock, for human consumption, and mainly as green manure for soil fertility. Various examples of legumes are; Lentils, Adzuki beans, Garbanzo beans, Kidney beans and many more.