The Role of Grain Legumes in Enhancing Soil Health and Promoting Sustainable Agricultural Practices: A Review

It is commonly acknowledged that sustainable agricultural practices are essential, and that diversifying cropping systems is crucial to reaching this objective. Legumes made of grains are essential to farming systems because they provide benefits for both income creation and the security of food and nutrition. Legume-based cropping systems can help with a variety of agricultural issues, such as controlling pests and diseases, improving soil fertility, preserving biodiversity, and reducing food poverty. The function of legumes in sustainable agricultural systems is covered in this chapter, with an emphasis on the benefits of incorporating legumes into various agroecosystems and farming techniques. Legumes boost the potential for crop productivity, offering a calculated response to poor crop yields and assisting in the transition to more environmentally friendly farming methods. Additionally, due to their health and environmental benefits, it is crucial to focus on breeding grain legumes that optimize their natural ability for biological nitrogen fixation and thrive despite abiotic and biotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, and pathogen and insect infestations.