Potential for increasing protein production by legume inoculation

Summary and Conclusions

The world food problem has been discussed in terms of food production for a rapidly expanding population, a large portion of which is already undernourished.

Evidence has been presented that legumes are more efficient producers of essential amino acids than either non-legumes or animal sources. A wider use of legumes has been suggested as an aid to the solution of the protein deficiency problem.

Legumes are useful in conserving soil and moisture by increasing infiltration and decreasing runoff, and in improving the physical condition and fertility status of soils by stabilizing soil structure and decreasing the leaching of plant nutrients. The nitrogen status of a soil may be greatly improved by the decomposition of nitrogen-rich leguminous residues.

Yields of edible legumes in the developing regions of the world are generally much lower than in the technologically developed regions. This suggests a considerable potential for increasing protein production by the application of modern technology to legume production in the developing countries.

Legume production can, in many instances, be improved quantitatively and qualitatively by proper inoculation.