Leguminous crops: Chickpea, Groundnut, Soya bean and lentils such as pigeon pea (tur)

 

Leguminous crops, including chickpea (chana), groundnut, soya bean and lentils such as pigeon pea (tur), have a unique biological capacity to fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil, reducing the need for nitrogen fertiliser and, in turn, N2O emissions. 

A meta-analysis published  in 2023 shows that legumes fix about 70 kg of nitrogen per ha, equivalent to 152 kg of urea. 

This natural fertilisation supports sustainable plant growth and soil fertility, while improving the availability of other macronutrients. 

The study says soils under legume crops show more than 11 per cent higher NPK (nitrogen, phophorous and potassium) availability and 16-17 per cent greater carbon seque stration than cereal monocultures. 

Legumes also require 25 per cent less irrigation water than non-legume crops.