Inter and Intra-Specific Variation of Legumes and Mechanisms to Access and Adapt to Less Available Soil Phosphorus and Rock Phosphate

Abstract

Legume integration in African agricultural production systems is among the options with demonstrated potential for sustainable land management. Best bet legumes for promotion in cropping systems should play multiple roles in soil fertility, food and fodder provision. The main constraint to growth and productivity of legumes i.e., phosphorus deficiency, is variably addressed through use of inorganic P fertilizers and slow reactive phosphate rock, genotype adaptation to low P soils and role of phosphate solubilizing micro-organisms (PSMs). Research findings using grain legumes show greater yields for rotated cereal and higher land equivalent ratios for intercropping than cereal monocropping systems across different environments. The current research priority is to enhance recovery of soil P by legumes to increase productivity of cropping systems in low-nutrient environments. A number of research priorities are outlined among them being the integration of physiological research with genetic improvement.