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Legume

Last updated: November 19, 2021

What Does Legume Mean?

A legume is a simple, dry fruit that is contained within a shed or a pod. Legumes are seeds, fruits, or plants that are normally known for their high protein, carbohydrate, and fat content. There are about 18,000 species of legumes around the world.

Because legumes are so varied, each one has a unique nutritional profile. The most popular types of legumes include, but are not limited to, tamarinds, peanuts, soybeans, carobs, mesquites, lupin beans, lentils, peas, alfalfa, and clover.

Legume fruits normally develop from carpels and open on two sides, like as on a pod.

When dried, legumes are known as pulses.

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Maximum Yield Explains Legume

In terms of farming, legumes can also belong to other agricultural classes such as timber species, blooms, and grains. Some seed legumes such as peanuts and soybeans are also produced for their oils. Other types of seed legumes such as alfalfa and clover are farmed exclusively to sow forage.

When legumes are growing, they fix nitrogen in the soil, which reduces the need for chemical fertilizers. Because of their unique ability to break down certain types of nitrogen, legumes make an ideal companion plant for crops that require a lot of nitrogen.

Historically speaking, archaeologists first discovered signs of legume production in Punjab. According to their findings, these legumes were first harvested back in 3300 BC. Traces of lentil cultivation have also been found around the pyramids in Egypt. Nowadays, the largest consumers of legumes are from America, Myanmar, Australia, Canada, and Pakistan, while India remains the world’s largest producer to date.

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