**7. Microbiological changes under organic legumes**

Legumes are one of the important components to increase soil microbial biomass (SMB) in the soil [35]. Legumes play an important role in small and mediumsized businesses and important energy processes, such as the nutrient cycle and disruption of SOMs, thus improving crop yields and soil sustainability [36]. The instability of small and medium-sized enterprises implementing several important agronomic processes in the soil can drastically change agricultural productivity and soil sustainability [37]. The relationship between biota and legume in the soil and their significance for the various soil functions has a positive impact on soil sustainability [38]. SMB was increased by rotation of legumes with significant improvements in the structure of soil microbial communities and soil health [39]. Some microorganisms that interact physically with legumes in the rhizosphere can also actively improve crop yields by increasing plant growth and growth [40]. The SMB is similar to the eye of a needle than any SOM must overcome [41] and is therefore widely used as a biological indicator in soil sustainability [38]. SOM is an instant sink for nutrients, organisms, and carbon. SMB also increases the nutrient supply in cultures in symbiotic associations. It contributes to the physical structure of the soil, chemical processes, and pesticide degradation and prevents soil pathogens [42]. SMB and microbiological dynamics are related indicators of changes in soil sustainability due to changes in soil properties. SMBs are mainly found in surface layers and vary according to soil configuration. SMB is a living element of the soil. Tilak [43] stated higher counts of actinomycetes, bacteria, *Azotobacter, fungi,* and PSB due to growing of mungbean in fallow after rice (**Table 3**). These increments in the microbial population in turn affect mineralization and immobilization of nutrients depending upon the environment. By adding legumes in the cropping system, the


**87**

*Organic Grain Legumes in India: Potential Production Strategies, Perspective, and Relevance*

term inclusion of legumes in the cropping sequence/cropping system.

as most grain legumes are sensitive to salinity and alkalinity.

damage from a pest combination.

effectively combat the threat.

**2. Pests and diseases**: Among fusarium wilt diseases, associated with the root rot complex, perhaps the most common disease causes significant yield losses in mung beans (**Table 4**). *Fusarium wilt*, sterile mosaic as well as *Phytophthora blight*, yellow mosaic, *Cercospora* spp., and white rust on green and urban peas and rust also cause significant damage. 250 species of insects affect legumes in India. Of these, nearly a dozen cause significant damage to crops. On average, 2–2.4 million tons of legumes worth about 6000 rupees are lost each year due to

**3. Problems with blue bulls**: Favored by blue bulls, the area of legumes is transferred to other crops. Legumes are vulnerable to attack by the blue bull in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Due to the widespread threat, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, farmers did not allow the possibility of in pulse production. There is no domestic feasible strategy to

**4. Unfavorable climatic conditions**: Poor soil and agro-climatic conditions not only affect the legumes sowing time but also shorten the time of the growing

microbial population of useful microbes increased up to 3 to 4 times as compared to non-legumes additions. Additional soil biological parameters, improved after long

In addition to low productivity, growing population, devastating climate change, complexities of diseases and pests, the socio-economic situation of pulse producers, poor storage facilities, etc. They increase the deficit of legumes that are available in

**1. Area**: The growth of legumes is poor in marginal areas with low resource conditions is one of the main reasons for low pulse productivity. About 87% of the legume growing area in the country belongs to the rain cover system. The average rainfall of the main pulse producing states such as Madhya Pradesh (MP), Uttar Pradesh (UP), Gujarat and Maharastra is about 1000 mm and the variable coefficient of rainfall is 20–25%. Water stress is the most frequently cited reason for the poor harvest. Final drought and heat stress lead to forced maturity with low yields. The stress of drought can only reduce seed yield by 50% in the tropics. A leap in productivity can be achieved by applying life-saving irrigation, especially on Rabi legumes grown with remaining moisture. Two genes have been identified: "efl-1" and "ppd" for early flowering and maturation to escape the stress of drought (ICCV-2 in South India). The actual irrigated area under legumes remains stagnant at 13% of the total area. The availability of suitable soil moisture for plant growth depends on rainfall, water holding capacity, and soil depth in rainy areas. In southern India, soil water holding capacity usually limits grain yield to 50% compared to irrigation capacity. In contrast, in vertisol soil, the ability to retain water is larger, leading to a decrease in the growth rate of up to 5–20%. The increased amount of evaporation in southern India during the Rabi season leads to serious restrictions on the implementation of green beans during drought. Another major problem is soil salinity and alkalinity. High salinity and alkalinity in the semi-arid tropics and the Indo-Gangetic plains of the irrigated areas are of particular interest

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93077*

**8. Limiting factors for low production**

the water.

#### **Table 3.**

*Soil microbial population as affected by legumes.*

microbial population of useful microbes increased up to 3 to 4 times as compared to non-legumes additions. Additional soil biological parameters, improved after long term inclusion of legumes in the cropping sequence/cropping system.
