Abstract
Legumes represent some of the most important crops in the world that are very useful in smallholder and large-scale farming systems. They are commonly referred to as the poor man’s meat due to their high dietary proteins and other micronutrients, including iron, zinc, folate, and thiamine that are important for human and livestock nutrition. The role of legumes in boosting food security and generating income in rural households across the globe is indispensable. Other than boosting healthy diet choices in rural households, legumes have also been used to promote soil health and fertility as they collectively account for 80% of biological nitrogen fixation. Industrial application of legumes is also gaining popularity with grain legumes currently used in synthesis of bioplastics. Legume production commands 27% of global crop production with a significant proportion coming from low input rural smallholder farms. However, legume production has declined over the years as a result of poor soil health management strategies and climate change. These have led to utilization of intensive agriculture practices that dictates the use of inorganic fertilizers and other agrochemicals to boost crop production. Intensive agricultural practices are unsustainable, costly and not eco-friendly. The plant growth-promoting microorganisms like rhizobia, mycorrhiza, and phosphate solubilizing bacteria are eco-friendly and can sustainably be used to improve soil fertility and improve legume production. Besides, co-inoculation of legume plants with rhizobia and phosphate solubilizing microorganisms can sustainably improve legume production and soil fertility. Here, we review the potential benefits of utilization of rhizobia, and other plant growth promoting microorganisms for sustainable improvement of legume production in smallholder agroecosystems.
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Abbreviations
- ACC:
-
1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic Acid
- AMF:
-
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
- BNF:
-
Biological Nitrogen Fixation
- HAP:
-
Heme Activator Protein
- IAA:
-
Indole Acetic Acid
- miRNA:
-
micro Ribonucleic Acid
- NCR:
-
Nodule Cysteine Rich
- NCRPs:
-
Nodule Cysteine Rich Peptides
- PGPR:
-
Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria
- sRNA:
-
small Ribonucleic Acid
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This work was supported by The Future Leaders – African Independent Researchers (FLAIR) Fellowship Programme, which is a partnership between the African Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society funded by the UK Government’s Global Challenges Research Fund, Research.
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Muthini, M., Awino, R., Kirui, K.C., Koech, K., Jalloh, A.A., Njeru, E.M. (2020). Optimizing Rhizobium-Legume Symbiosis in Smallholder Agroecosystems. In: Guleria, P., Kumar, V., Lichtfouse, E. (eds) Sustainable Agriculture Reviews 45. Sustainable Agriculture Reviews, vol 45. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53017-4_8
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