Agroecology of legumes: From metabolism to the plot, an exploration associated crops and fertilization strategies

Combining leguminous and cereal crops is a sustainable agricultural strategy for improving nutrient uptake, particularly phosphorus, in poor soils. Thanks to their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen and mobilize soil phosphorus, legumes - such as chickpeas, lentils and beans - enrich the rhizosphere and boost the performance of intercropping systems. Cereals, in turn, optimize resource use and stimulate legume symbiosis. Phosphate fertilization plays an essential role, particularly for beans, a species sensitive to P deficiency but highly responsive to controlled inputs. This book explores the physiological, microbiological and agronomic mechanisms underlying these interactions, and highlights the importance of combining cropping associations with rational phosphorus management to improve productivity, soil sustainability and food security.