Relying on the numerous advantages of grain legumes for more productive and nutritive agriculture in the semi-arid tropics

Sécheresse ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 314-321
Author(s):  
Jérôme Bossuet ◽  
Vincent Vadez
Keyword(s):  
Grain Legumes ◽  
Semi Arid

scholarly journals Productivity and residual benefits of grain legumes to sorghum under semi-arid conditions in southwestern Zimbabwe

2007 ◽  
Vol 299 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bongani Ncube ◽  
Steve J. Twomlow ◽  
Mark T. van Wijk ◽  
John P. Dimes ◽  
Ken E. Giller
Keyword(s):  
Grain Legumes ◽  
Arid Conditions ◽  
Semi Arid

scholarly journals Understanding growth and development of three short-season grain legumes for improved adaptation in semi-arid Eastern Kenya

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 442 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Sennhenn ◽  
D. M. G. Njarui ◽  
B. L. Maass ◽  
A. M. Whitbread
Keyword(s):  
Resource Use ◽  
Growth Habit ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Grain Legumes ◽  
Resource Use Efficiency ◽  
Growing Period ◽  
Plant Densities ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Short Season ◽  
Semi Arid

Short-season grain legumes play an important role in smallholder farming systems as source of food and to improve soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. However, it is not clearly understood how these diverse legumes contribute to the resilience of such systems in semi-arid environments. We describe the growth, development and resource-use efficiency (focusing on radiation, RUE) of three promising short-season grain legumes: common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) and lablab (Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet). Two field experiments were conducted during the short rains of 2012–13 and 2013–14 in Eastern Kenya. In the first experiment, the legumes were grown at three plant densities (low, medium, high); in the second experiment, they were subjected to three water regimes (rainfed, partly irrigated, fully irrigated). Phenological development was monitored and biomass accumulation, leaf area index and fractional radiation interception were measured repeatedly during growth; grain yield was measured at maturity. Harvest index and RUE were calculated from these data. Common bean had the shortest growing period (70 days), the most compact growth habit and relatively high RUE but limited grain yield (1000–1900 kg ha–1), thereby proving more suitable for cultivation in areas with restricted cropping windows or in intercropping systems. Cowpea had a longer growing period (90 days) and a spreading growth habit leading to high light interception and outstanding grain yields under optimal conditions (1400–3050 kg ha–1). Lablab showed stable RUE values (0.76–0.92 g MJ–1), was relatively unaffected by limited water availability and had a comparatively long growing period (100 days). Lablab grain yields of ~1200–2350 kg ha–1 were obtained across all water regimes, indicating a high potential to cushion climatic variability. Planting density strongly influenced the production success of cowpea and lablab, with high plant densities leading to vigorous growth habit with low podset establishment. Such information on temporal and spatial differences in growth, development and resource-use efficiency is highly valuable for crop-modelling applications and for designing more resilient farming systems with short-season grain legumes.

The potential of herbaceous native Australian legumes as grain crops: a review

2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay W. Bell ◽  
Richard G. Bennett ◽  
Megan H. Ryan ◽  
Heather Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Growth Habit ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Grain Legumes ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Sufficient Information ◽  
Agricultural Systems ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Grain Crops ◽  
Semi Arid

AbstractMany agricultural systems around the world are challenged by declining soil resources, a dry climate and increases in input costs. The cultivation of plants that are better adapted than current crop species to nutrient poor soils, a dry climate and low-input agricultural systems would aid the continued profitability and environmental sustainability of agricultural systems. This paper examines herbaceous native Australian legumes for their capacity to be developed as grain crops adapted to dry environments. The 14 genera that contain herbaceous species areCanavalia, Crotalaria, Cullen, Desmodium, Glycine, Glycyrrhiza, Hardenbergia, Indigofera, Kennedia, Lotus, Rhynchosia, Swainsona, TrigonellaandVigna. A number of these genera (e.g.,Glycine, Crotalaria, TrigonellaandVigna) include already cultivated exotic grain legumes. Species were evaluated based on the extent to which their natural distribution corresponded to arid and semi-arid climatic regions, as well as the existing information on traits related to harvestability (uniformity of ripening, propensity to retain pod, pod shattering and growth habit), grain qualities (seed size, chemistry, color and the absence of toxins) and fecundity. Published data on seed yield were rare, and for many other traits information was limited. The Australian species ofVigna,CanavaliaandDesmodiummainly have tropical distributions and were considered poorly suited for semi-arid temperate cropping systems. Of the remaining generaGlycyrrhizaandCrotalariaspecies showed many suitable traits, including an erect growth habit, a low propensity to shatter, flowers and fruits borne at the end of branches and moderate to large seeds (5 and 38 mg, respectively). The species for which sufficient information was available that were considered highest priority for further investigation wereGlycine canescens, Cullen tenax, Swainsona canescens, Swainsona colutoides, Trigonella suavissima, Kennedia prorepens, Glycyrrhiza acanthocarpa, Crotalaria cunninghamiiandRhynchosia minima.

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