Harnessing ecosystem services from biological nitrogen fixation

Abstract Legumes have an ability to contribute nitrogen and other nutrients to soils, and this underpins their importance especially in low-input agricultural systems. They also play a crucial role in being of economic benefit to farmers in that their inclusion in cropping systems reduces N supplied through N fertilizers. In this chapter the role of legumes, including the contribution of N and other mineral nutrient elements in the soil and plant organs, benefits associated with cereal-legume rotation, suppression of diseases, and increased and diverse microbial populations, as well as increased resistance of physic-chemical and biological properties to disturbances are discussed. These benefits are associated with legumes that are grown as sole, intercrop, cover crops, or in rotation with nonlegume crops. We also describe the role of agricultural inputs and other factors in the abovementioned benefits of legumes.