7 Superpowers of Leguminous Crops in Organic Farming

The story begins with a seed…
In a corner of the village, Ram Kishan’s uncle was farming a strange thing in his fields. Neither too much fertilizer, nor too much water, but still his field was green. The neighboring farmers were surprised. When he was asked the secret, he smiled and said –

“Bhai, plant pulse crops, the soil will take care of itself.”

I did not understand that then, but today when the craze for organic farming is increasing, leguminous crops, i.e. pulse crops, are once again in the spotlight.

Come, let us know their 7 superpowers which every organic farmer should know.

1. Green Manure – When the plant itself becomes food

The first thing – free booster of soil fertility. Leguminous crops, like dhaincha, moong, sunhemp, or cluster beans, draw nitrogen from the air through their roots and deposit it in the soil (thanks to Rhizobium bacteria). When they are mixed in the fields, they become green manure – very fresh, living food.

Just like we fill an empty plate with nutrition, Sunhemp or Dhaincha is a tonic for the soil. Top 3 green manure legumes in India:”

• Cluster bean (Guar)
• Dhaincha (Sesbania)
• Sunhemp (Crotalaria)

Scientific Explanation:

Through nitrogen fixation, up to 80-100 kg nitrogen can be supplied in every hectare. This reduces the need for chemical fertilizers – less waste, better soil health.

A farmer says: “We do not cultivate moong later, but in the middle – which gives direct benefit to the crop in the future.”

According to ICAR, pulses like moong and urad can fix up to 60–70 kg nitrogen/hectare. Want to dive deeper into how leguminous crops fix nitrogen naturally? Check our detailed guide here.

2. Mulching – When all the residue becomes a fertilizer

The biomass or the remaining portion of legumes, when left on the ground, becomes mulch – a natural fertilizer which:

• Prevents soil moisture,
• Controls unwanted weeds
• And also helps in preventing soil erosion.

Real Benefit: This residue also increases soil organic carbon, which is essential for long-term fertility, supress weed growth, improve organic matter help soil infilteration.

3. Fodder – Fodder Champion

The real support of village livestock – leguminous fodder crops like berseem, cowpea, lucerne. They are high in protein, have better digestibility and good production.

Why it matters:

• Milk yield increases
• Animal health is better, and animal medicines cost is less
• And their residue is also useful for the soil

A milk farmer said: “After feeding Berseem, my buffaloes gave more milk, and the manure was of better quality.”

4. Buffer Cropping – Natural Security Guard

Pests get relief by seeing monoculture fields. But if you plant legumes on the border or as a buffer (If you do not know what buffer crops is and what is role of this in crops you can comment below and i cover this article), Its benefit is below:

• Pests get confused
• Spread of soil diseases is stopped
• And pollinators also get a place
• This directly protects the main crop – without any synthetic pesticide.

Tip: Planting hemp or cowpea on the border is a low-cost and high-reward technique. Ek baar maine ek kheti mein dekha, border pe urad lagayi gayi thi – sab pest wahan atak gaye, aur main fasal bach gayi!

5. Intercropping – Two Crops, Double Benefit

One golden rule of organic farming is – “Never leave your soil hungry or lonely.” You can intercrop leguminous crops with cereals (like maize, bajra, jowar). Benefits:

• Legume will provide nitrogen, cereal will take it from it
• Pest pressure will be reduced
• Yield is stable and climate-resilient
• Improves soil health in multi-dimensional way

According to ICAR trials:
Maize + cowpea intercropping gave 12-15% more yield than single maize.

6. Soil Rejuvenation – Plants that give breath to the soil

Where other crops exploit the soil, leguminous crops detoxify the soil. How?

• Deep tap roots break soil compaction
• Soil porosity and aeration improves
• Erosion is controlled especially in sloping fields
• This is especially useful in crop rotation – like growing lentil or gram after wheat.

7. Pollinator Magnet – Guests will come to Flowers

Organic farms only run when nature’s entire ecosystem works – and bees and beneficial insects play a very big role in it. Legume flowers (like moong, cowpea, urad) attract:

• Bees, butterflies, and native pollinators
• Predator insects that eat harmful pests
• This creates natural balance and makes the farm more resilient.

Quick Recap: 7 Superpowers of Leguminous Crops

Conclusion – The power of organic farming is hidden in the lentil seed

Organic farming is not a shortcut, but it is definitely a smart cut. And leguminous crops are your silent partners in it – they silently improve the condition of the soil, protect it from pests, and make the production steady.

So brothers and sisters, in the next season, don’t just eat lentils – feed lentils to the land too!

Comment: Which leguminous crops are popular in your area?

Share: with farmer brothers who are not using this natural superpower till now.