Hayat, R: Sustainable legumes-cereal cropping system - Tapa blanda

Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is the most important biochemical reaction for life on earth. BNF occurs mainly through symbiotic association of legumes with certain N2-fixing microorganisms that convert elemental nitrogen into ammonia.Phosphorus have a significant positive effect on the growth and biological yield of the legumes. Supply of available N following legumes is usually higher than those following non-legumes. The ability of legumes to fix atmospheric nitrogen, their nodulated roots and plant residues left after harvesting represent a valuable source of organic N. Annual crop legumes, grown in rotation with cereal crops, can improve yields of the cereals and contribute to the total N pool in soil. Legume-cereal sequence also enhanced biomass and grain yield as well as WUE of subsequent wheat. However, it is recommended that further long term trials involving legumes-cereal rotation may be conducted on farmer?s field to get comprehensive data, improving the understanding and to come up to a more sound conclusion.

Rifat Hayat is a Lecturer in the Department of Soil Science & SWC, PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.