The Agroecosystem Services of Leguminous Crops: Sustainable Intensification under a Changing Climate

This book informs about meeting the growing demand for food while preserving soil, water, and environmental quality remains one of the most pressing challenges for modern agriculture. Cropping systems that harness natural ecological processes offer an effective pathway toward resilient and resource-efficient production. Leguminous crops play a key role in this transition by improving soil fertility, enhancing nutrient cycling, and strengthening the stability of agricultural systems under climate stress. This book demonstrates how the integration of legumes into cropping systems can enhance multiple agroecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, climate regulation, soil conservation, and biological pest control. Drawing on scientific evidence and field-based examples—particularly from Egyptian agroecosystems—it highlights practical strategies such as intercropping, crop rotation, and cover cropping that improve productivity while reducing reliance on external inputs.