Nutritional and Sensory Properties of Penne-Type Pasta Based on Cereals (Oryza sativa (L.), Digitaria exilis, Pennicetum glaucum), Tubers (Ipomoea batata, Manihot esculenta Crantz), and a Legume (Vigna unguiculata (L.))

This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional and sensory characteristics of penne-type pasta produced from locally sourced cereals, tubers, and legumes. To achieve this, we formulated four different types of pasta with varying levels of incorporation ranging from 10 to 50% cereals such as millet, fonio, and rice, tubers such as manioc and sweet potato, and legumes such as cowpea. The results showed that the incorporation of local products considerably improved the nutrient content of penne without being rejected by consumers. Sensory analysis showed that the best results were obtained with mixtures of sweet potato, cowpea, and wheat, as well as with rice, manioc, cowpea, and sample wheat. These results are of great importance to manufacturers in a world where developing nutritious and attractive food products is a crucial challenge.

Impact on Soil Organic C and Total Soil N from Cool- and Warm-Season Legumes Used in a Green Manure-Forage Cropping System

Annual forage legumes are important components of livestock production systems in East Texas and the southeastern US. Forage legumes contribute nitrogen (N) to cropping systems through biological N fixation, and their seasonal biomass production can be managed to complement forage grasses. Our research objectives were to evaluate both warm- and cool-season annual forage legumes as green manure for biomass, N content, ability to enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil N, and impact on post season forage grass crops. Nine warm-season forage legumes (WSL) were spring planted and incorporated as green manure in the fall. Forage rye (Secale cereale L.) was planted following the incorporation of WSL treatments. Eight cool-season forage legumes (CSL) were fall planted in previously fallow plots and incorporated as green manure in late spring. Sorghum-sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor x Sorghum bicolor var. sudanense) was planted over all treatments in early summer after forage rye harvest and incorporation of CSL treatments. Sorghum-sudangrass was harvested in June, August and September, and treatments were evaluated for dry matter and N concentration. Soil cores were taken from each plot, split into depths of 0 to 15, 15 to 30 and 30 to 60 cm, and soil C and N were measured using combustion analysis. Nylon mesh bags containing plant samples were buried at 15 cm and used to evaluate decomposition rate of above ground legume biomass, including change in C and N concentrations. Mungbean (Vigna radiata L. [Wilczek]) had the highest shoot biomass yield (6.24 t DM ha-1) and contributed the most total N (167 kg∙ha-1) and total C (3043 kg∙ha-1) of the WSL tested. Decomposition rate of WSL biomass was rapid in the first 10 weeks and very slow afterward. Winter pea (Pisum sativum L. spp. sativum), arrow leaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum Savi.), and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) were the most productive CSL in this trial. Austrian winter pea produced 8.41 t DM ha-1 with a total N yield of 319 kg N ha-1 and total C production of 3835 kg C ha-1. The WSL treatments had only small effects on rye forage yield and N concentration, possibly due to mineralization of N from a large SOC pool already in place. The CSL treatments also had only minimal effects on sorghum-sudangrass forage production. Winter pea, arrow leaf and crimson clover were productive cool season legumes and could be useful as green manure crops. Mungbean and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) were highly productive warm season legumes but may include more production risk in green manure systems due to soil moisture competition.

Legume Green Manure and Intercropping for High Biomass Sorghum Production

Before the advent of cheap, synthetic fertilizers, legumes were commonly used as green manure crops for their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen (N). A three-year study at Overton, TX examined legume integration into high-biomass sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) production systems on a Lilbert loamy fine sand recently cultivated after a fertilized bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] pasture. In this split-split plot design, ‘Dixie’ crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) and ‘Iron and Clay’ cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) were integrated into a high-biomass sorghum production system to evaluate impacts on N concentration, C concentration, and yield of high-biomass sorghum and their impacts on soil total N and soil organic carbon (SOC). Main plots were split into crimson clover green manure (CLGM) and winter fallow (FALL) followed by three sub-plots split into warm-season crop rotations: cowpea green manure (CPGM), cowpea-sorghum intercrop (CPSR), and sorghum monocrop (SORG). Three N fertilizer treatments (0, 45, 90 kg N∙ha−1) were randomized and applied as sub-sub plots. The CLGM increased (P sorghum biomass yield (16.5 t DM∙ha−1) 28% in year three but had no effect in the first two years. The CPSR treatment reduced sorghum yield up to 62% compared to SORG;whereas CPGM increased sorghum yield 56% and 18% the two years following cowpea incorporation. Rate of N fertilizer had no effect on sorghum biomass yield. Decrease in SOC and soil N over time indicated mineralization of organic N and may explain why no N fertilizer response was observed in sorghum biomass yield. Cowpea showed strong potential as a green manure crop but proved to be too competitive for successful intercropping in high-biomass sorghum production systems.

Efficiency of Legumes in Increasing Yam Yield under Sandy Ferrasol in the Forest Zone of Southwestern Côte d’Ivoire

The cropping system is based on traditional farming in rural areas. In this way, yields of some food crops like yam are very low considering their high need for nutrients. The nutrient-rich land is under high land pressure as it is occupied by cash crops such as oil palm and rubber at the expense of food crops and soil fertility is declining. The study was conducted in Grand-Lahou to assess the effect of organic matter provided by legumes in increasing yam yield. The randomized complete block design included four (4) treatments: Arachis hypogaea + yam association (T1), Acacia mangium + yam association (T2), Arachis + Acacia mangium + yam association (T3) and pure yam crop (T0). The parameters measured were: the soil nutrients content, the rate of mineralization of organic matter through the C/N ratio as well as the yield of yam through different techniques that allowed the objective of the study to be achieved. It was noted a slight improvement of nitrogen and organic carbon in all treatments with a higher value recorded in the T2 treatment. The C/N ratio decreased to 12 in all treatments compared to the control, which reflects a normal decomposition of the organic matter. Treatment T1 increased yam yield (8.4 t/ha) in contrast to treatments T2 (4.1 t/ha) and T3 (2.8 t/ha). Legume-based treatments T2 and T3 were associated with a significant decrease in yam yield, resulting in losses of −46.34% to −25.09%, while treatment T1 resulted in a gain of 28.57%. As a result, the treatments involving legumes contributed to normalizing the organic matter content of the soil. The simultaneous association of these two legumes led to a decrease in yam production, contrary to the treatment associating only groundnut.

Application of Principal Component Analysis as Properties and Sensory Assessment Tool for Legume Milk Chocolates

Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to examine the effect of nutritional and bioactive compounds of legume milk chocolate as well as the sensory to document the extend of variations and their significance with plant sources. PCA identified eight significant principle components, that reduce the size of the variables into one principal component in physiochemical analysis interpreting 73.5% of the total variability with/and 78.6% of total variability explained in sensory evaluation. Score plot indicates that Double Bean milk chocolate in-corporated with MOL and CML in nutritional profile have high positive correlations. In nutritional evaluation, carbohydrates and fat content shows negative/minimal correlations whereas no negative correlations were found in sensory evaluation which implies every sensorial variable had high correlation with each other.

Soil Nitrous Oxide Emissions Under Maize-Legume Intercropping System in the North China Plain

Many studies have focused on various agricultural management measures to reduce agricultural nitrous oxide （N2O） emission. However, few studies have investigated soil N2O emissions in intercropping systems in the North China Plain. Thus, we conducted a ifeld experiment to compare N2O emissions under monoculture and maize-legume intercropping systems. In 2010, ifve treatments, including monocultured maize （M）, maize-peanut （MP）, maize-alfalfa （MA）, maize-soybean （MS）, and maize-sweet clover （MSC） intercropping were designed to investigate this issue using the static chamber technique. In 2011, M, MP, and MS remained, and monocultured peanuts （P） and soybean （S） were added to the trial. The results showed that total production of N2O from different treatments ranged from （0.87＆#177;0.12） to （1.17＆#177;0.11） kg ha-1 in 2010, while those ranged from （3.35＆#177;0.30） to （9.10＆#177;2.09） kg ha-1 in 2011. MA and MSC had no signiifcant effect on soil N2O production compared to that of M （P＆lt;0.05）. Cumulative N2O emissions from MP in 2010 were signiifcantly lower than those from M, but the result was the opposite in 2011 （P＆lt;0.05）. MS signiifcantly reduced soil N2O emissions by 25.55 and 48.84%in 2010 and 2011, respectively （P＆lt;0.05）. Soil N2O emissions were signiifcantly correlated with soil water content, soil temperature, nitriifcation potential, soil NH4＋, and soil NO3-content （R2=0.160-0.764, P＆lt;0.01）. A stepwise linear regression analysis indicated that soil N2O release was mainly controlled by the interaction between soil moisture and soil NO3-content （R2=0.828, P＆lt;0.001）. These results indicate that MS had a coincident effect on soil N2O lfux and signiifcantly reduced soil N2O production compared to that of M over two growing seasons.

Food legume production in China

Food legumes comprise all legumes grown for human food in China as either dry grains or vegetables,except for soybean and groundnut.China has a vast territory with complex ecological conditions.Rotation,intercropping,and mixed cropping involving pulses are normal cropping systems in China.Whether indigenous or introduced crops,pulses have played an important role in Chinese cropping systems and made an important contribution to food resources for humans since ancient times.The six major food legume species(pea,faba bean,common bean,mung bean,adzuki bean,and cowpea) are the most well-known pulses in China,as well as those with more local distributions;runner bean,lima bean,chickpea,lentil,grass pea,lupine,rice bean,black gram,hyacinth bean,pigeon pea,velvet bean,winged bean,guar bean,sword bean,and jack bean.China has remained the world's leading producer of peas,faba beans,mung beans,and adzuki beans in recent decades,as documented by FAO statistics and China Agriculture Statistical Reports.The demand for food legumes as a healthy food will markedly increase with the improvement of living standards in China.Since China officially joined the World Trade Organization(WTO) in2001,imports of pea from Canada and Australia have rapidly increased,resulting in reduced prices for dry pea and other food legumes.With reduced profits for food legume crops,their sowing area and total production has decreased within China.At the same time,the rising consumer demand for vegetable food legumes as a healthy food has led to attractive market prices and sharp production increases in China.Vegetable food legumes have reduced growing duration and enable flexibility in cropping systems.In the future,production of dry food legumes will range from stable to slowly decreasing,while production of vegetable food legumes will continue to increase.

Plant growth and soil microbial community structure of legumes and grasses grown in monoculture or mixture

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to investigate the in?uence of soil moisture content on plant growth and the rhizosphere microbial community structure of four plant species (white clover, alfalfa, sudan grass, tall fescue), grown individually or in a mixture. The soil moisture content was adjusted to 55% or 80% water holding capacity (WHC). The results indicated that the total plant biomass of one pot was lower at 55% WHC. At a given soil moisture, the total plant biomass of white clover and tall ...

Editorial: Food Legume Diversity and Legume Research Policies

This special issue is focused on grain legumes,which belong to the Fabaceae family.Legumes are the second largest family of plants in the world after the grasses and are key components of manmade and natural ecosystems[1–3].They provide the environmental service of nitrogen fixation,so essential to soil construction and fertility maintenance,and are thus essential to agricultural systems[4,5].Different species of legumes range from huge trees to shrubs

Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Upland Farmland as Affected by Summer Legume Crop Cultivation

A field study was conducted to investigate the effects of leguminous crop cultivation on nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from upland agricultural soils. Results demonstrated that N2O emission sequences were that peanut crop> soybean>upland rice in terms of N2O-N flux, being 25.9, 21.2 and 18.4μg/m2·h respectively . While in terms of seasonal emission, the sequence was that soybean > peanut crop > upland rice, being 0.77, 0.70 and 0.55 kg/ha respectively. Results also demonstrated that legume crop treatment emitted much more N2O than non-legume upland rice treatment and that N fertilized treatments emitted more than unfertilized treatments, average N2O-N flux being 25.8 and 17.9μg/m2·h respectively. Legume crop cultivation and N fertilizer, therefore, were one of the important sources of N2O emissions from agricultural fields.

Production Performance of Root Systems of Four Forage Legume Species and Their Development Characteristics in Loess Plateau,China

Production performance of four forage legumes species of Medicago sativa,Onobrychis viciifolia,Lotus corniculatus and Galega officinalis were determined,including plant height,above-ground biomass per unit area,tillers per unit area,fertile tillers per unit area,shoot /leaf ratio and fresh /dry matter weight ratio,and the distribution characteristics of their root systems in 0- 100 cm soil layers with 10 cm interval were studied. Results showed that the average aboveground fresh biomass(4 a and 5 a) of four forage legumes species successively were L. corniculatus 】 M. sativa 】 O. viciifolia 】 G. officinalis. The average plant heights in two years successively were O. viciifolia 】 M. sativa 】 G. officinalis 】 L. corniculatus. Tillers per unit area of four forage legume species in two years successively were M. sativa 】 L. corniculatus 】 O. viciifolia 】 G. officinalis. Fertile tillers per unit area in two years were O. viciifolia 】 M. sativa 】 L. corniculatus 】 G. officinalis. Average shoot /leaf ratio in two years were G. officinalis 】 M. sativa 】 O. viciifolia 】 L. corniculatus. Average moisture contents of four forage legume species in two years successively were G. officinalis 】 L. corniculatus 】 M. sativa = O. viciifolia. The distribution characteristics of root systems of four forage legumes species in 0- 100 cm soil layers were as follows: the root weights of M. sativa in 0- 40 cm soil layers accounted for about 98. 3% of total root weight,that of O. viciifolia in 0- 30 cm soil layers was 85. 8%,that of L. corniculatus in 0- 10 cm soil layers was 80%,and that of G. officinalis in 0- 40 cm soil layers was 81. 4%. The results suggested that L. corniculatus was suited to plant in slighter degraded pasture to control water and soil erosion in early stage,G. officinalis with strong lateral roots was adapted to degraded grassland in the Loess Plateau where soil nutrient was poor,while O. viciifolia and M. sativa with potentially strong main root were fit for water and soil conservation in the losses plateau for long term.

Bio-Morphological Characters of Alien Legume Species, Influencing Their Invasion in Natural Plant Communities

Five alien legume species, actively invading in natural plant communities in European part of Russia, were studied—Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl., Galega orientalis Lam., Robinia pseudoacacia L., Amorpha fruticosa L. and Caragana arborescens L. Distribution ranges (considering their invasive status) were mapped. Not a single bio-morphological character to forecast invasion success in natural plant communities within secondary distribution range was found. The data of key value/importance for explaining invasive success of the species studied were obtained. Two hypotheses— Propagule Pressure and Evolution of Invasiveness—were critically analyzed in view of the received data.

Iron and Folate Contents of Tajik Legumes

Seven varieties of Tajik legumes and two Tajik snack type ready-to-eat (RTE) whole/split chickpeas were analyzed for iron in raw and cooked legumes and for naturally occurring folate content in cooked legumes. Iron was measured according to AACC method 40 - 41B. Folate contents were determined by microbiological (Lactobacillus casei subsp. Rhamnosus ATCC 7469) and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis utilizing a tri-enzyme treatment (pro-tease, α-amylase and conjugase). Folate derivatives of tetrahydrofolate, 5-formyl-tetrahydrofolate and 5-methyl- -tetrahydrofolate were identified and quantified. Iron content for Tajik legumes ranged from 5.52 to 13.27 mg/100 g for raw;2.81 to 4.12 mg/100 g for cooked and 4.37 and 4.76 mg/100 g for RTE chickpeas. The total folate content of cooked legumes ranged from 53 to 81 μg/100 g for beans;133 to 203 μg/100 g for peas, and from 39 to 22 μg/100 g for small and large lentils, respectively. The predominant form of folate in legumes was tetrahydrofolate, followed by 5-formyl-tetrahydrofolate and 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate.

Phenotypic, Stress Tolerance and Plant Growth Promoting Characteristics of Rhizobial Isolates from Selected Wild Legumes of Semiarid Region, Tirupati, India

Rhizobia are vital for nitrogen input, fertility of soil and legume plant growth. Knowledge on rhizobial diversity from arid and semiarid areas is important for dry land agriculture in the context of climatic change and for economic utilization. This study provides morphological, biochemical, stress tolerance and plant growth promoting characteristics of fifteen rhizobial isolates from the nodules of same number of wild legumes and one isolate from cultivated Arachis hypogea from semi-arid region, Tirupati. The bacterial isolates were confirmed as rhizobia based on colony morphology and biochemical tests. Based on the colour change of YMA-BTB medium, eight isolates were identified as slow growers and six were fast growers. The isolates differed in growth pattern, colony morphology, antibiotic resistance at higher concentrations and uniformity in utilization of carbon and nitrogen sources. The isolates are tolerant to NaCl up to one percent, displayed normal growth at temperatures 28℃ - 30℃, at neutral pH and poor growth at pH 5and 9. The isolates varied in the production of EPS and IAA, positive for phosphate solubilization and siderophore formation. This functional diversity displayed by the isolates can be utilised for the legume crop production by cross inoculation.

Influence of Mineral Fertilization on the Capacity of Nodulation of Three Species of Legumes(Groundnut,Cowpea and Soybean)

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and soybean (Vigna radiata) are the main food legumes grown in Cote d’Ivoire and the localities of Haut-Sassandra. These legumes are highly valued for their nutritional, agronomic and economic value. Groundnut, cowpea and soybean are the main food legumes grown in Cote d’Ivoire and in the localities of Haut-Sassandra. On the other hand, Ivorian soils are characterized by a tendency towards acidification and a decrease in the content of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen which have a direct impact on the products. To restore soil fertility, farmers use mineral fertilization. However, this fertilization has an influence on the nodulation of these legumes. The study took place at Jean Lorougnon University. We adopted a completely random experimental block device. The parameters measured included the number of nodules, the length and weight of the plant, the length and weight of the root system. Our results showed that mineral fertilization reduced the nodulation capacity of legumes. However, a small dose of phosphorus ( g) would be required for early growing legumes.

Endophytic fungi of wild legume Sesbania bispinosa in coastal sand dunes and mangroves of the Southwest coast of India

Evaluation of 450 surface sterilized tissue segments of a seasonal wild legume, Sesbania bispinosa （Jacq.）, of coastal sand dunes and mangroves of southwest India yielded 546 isolates comprising 39 endophytic fungi with six dominant taxa （Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium tenuissimum, Fusarium moniliforme, Penicillium chrysogenum and morpho sp. 1）. A consortium of saprophytic, pathogenic and toxigenic fungi exists as endophytes in S. bispinosa. Number of segments colonized, number of isolates obtained, species richness and diversity were higher in S. bispinosa in mangroves compared to coastal sand dunes. Seeds yielded more fungal isolates, but species richness and diversity were low. In spite of low fungal colonization in root segments, the diversity was high. Up to 30-40 % endophytic fungi of S. bispinosa differed between coastal sand dunes and mangroves revealing partial host- and habitat-specificity. As S. bispi- nosa is extensively used as green manure and forage in southwest India, further studies especially on the bioactive compounds of its endophytic fungi might broaden its range of uses. In addition to conventional morphologicaltechniques, molecular tools would provide precise insight on the endophytic fungi of coastal sand dunes and mangroves.

Responses of Legumes to Phosphorus Deficiency

Phosphorus deficiency is a universal problem in most world soils. Furthermore, of all nutrients, shortage of phosphorus has the biggest impact on legumes, therefore, lots of studies were carried out for identifying responses of legumes to shortage of phosphorus. They concluded that to maintain improved growth under phosphorus defioiency oonditions plants develop two major mechanisms： （i） Phosphorus acquisition （root morphology, root exudation and phosphorus uptake mechanisms）, （ii） Phosphorus utilization （internal mechanisms associated with better use of absorbed phosphorus at cellular level）. The aim of this brief review is to elucidate root morphological ohanges and rhizophere aoidification to phosphorus deficiency.

Yield and Uptake of Phosphorus by Wheat and Canola Grown after Two Years of Forage Legume and Annual Crops

Annual legumes have been shown to enhance the growth and phosphorus (P) uptake by following rotational crops. However, there is lack of information on the effect of perennial forage legumes included in rotation for a short duration on yield and P uptake of crops like wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and canola (Brassica napus L.) grown after the forage legume. A field study was conducted in four soil zones of Saskatchewan, Canada to assess: 1) the effect of two years of forage legume versus annual cereal, oilseed and grain legume on yield and P uptake of wheat and canola grown in the two subsequent years and 2) the effect of the complete four-year rotation on soil P dynamics and P balance. Four different crop sequences (alfalfa-alfalfa, red clover-red clover, barley-pea and barley-flax) employed over the first two years of crop rotation were compared as treatments followed by wheat and canola. Wheat grain yield was improved 32% - 60% by alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and red clover (Trifolium pretense L.) rotations at three of the four sites (P = 0.008, P = 0.001, P < 0.0001) compared to annual grains, while grain P uptake was enhanced 38% - 43% by red clover and alfalfa rotation at two sites (P = 0.013, P = 0.033). In the following year, positive yield benefits (55% - 64%) of having two years of alfalfa and red clover were observed at three sites. Four years of continuous cropping with a limited addition of fertilizer P resulted in a negative soil P balance and significant depletion of soil P fertility at all locations.

Agro-Ecological Adaptation and Participatory Evaluation of Multipurpose Tree and Shrub Legumes in Mid Altitudes of Sud-Kivu, D. R. Congo

Livestock is traditionally managed in mixed crop-livestock production systems in Sud-Kivu, D. R. Congo. Currently, livestock production is facing numerous constraints due to wars and insecurity in the country, with looting of animals, demographic pressure on natural resources, and lack of extension services. Multipurpose trees and shrubs with adequate forage quality could help overcome dry-season feed shortage. The objective of this research was to assess the agro-ecological adaptability of selected forage tree and shrub legumes combined with farmer participatory evaluation. The study was carried out at two distinct mid-altitude sites in Sud-Kivu. Trees and shrubs were planted randomly in eleven lines, with each species/accession consisting of nine plants split into three replications. Following a standardization cut after one year of growth, regular biomass harvests were performed every eight weeks during one year;Desmodium and Flemingia were cut at 0.5 m above soil surface, while Leucaena and Calliandra at 1 m. Before every harvest, plant height was measured and number of stems counted. Fresh leaf and stem biomass were weighted, sub samples dried and leaves analyzed for nutritive value. Results from agronomic evaluation show that Leucaena diversifolia ILRI 15551 and Leucaena leucocephala had the highest yield in the rainy season on fertile soil;during dry season, Leucaena diversifolia ILRI 15551 was superior. On poor soil, Flemingia macrophylla CIAT 17403 performed best in both seasons, however, its forage quality was relatively low. Forage tree and shrub legumes chosen by farmers were, in general, the same as those superior ones in agronomic evaluation.

Effect of Legume Diversity on Ecotourism in the west Tianshan area

On the basis of field investigation, specimen identification, and consulting a great deal of documents, this paper applied geographic flora to analyze the leguminous plants in the West Tianshan area systematically, and explored the impact of its diversity on ecotourism. There are 349 species of the Leguminosae, belonging to 44 genera, and the species number accounts for 15.42% of the total species number in the study area. The life form is dominated by mesophyte, and the ecotype is dominated by phanerophyte. Leguminous plants in the study area have relatively complicate floristic elements, stronger temperate nature, including 238 temperate species(68.19% of the total species number). There are 123 north temperate species and varieties, accounting for 35.24% of the total species number, the distribution pattern reflects climatic and geographical distribution of the West Tianshan area. Plants are able to conserve water resources, preserve soil and water, prevent wind and fix sands, adjust regional climate, purify air, maintain ecosystem balance, and build a favorable environment. On this basis, this paper analyzed the means of promoting the protection of plant diversity in the sustainable development of ecotourism.