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Legumes
Kinds of Legumes Terms modified by Legumes Selected AbstractsEFFECTS OF COOKING AND DRYING PROCESSES ON PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL AND SENSORY PROPERTIES OF LEGUME BASED BULGURJOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, Issue 5 2009NERMIN BILGIÇLI ABSTRACT The changes in physical, chemical and sensory properties of common bean (CB) and chickpea (CP) bulgur prepared with different cooking (atmospheric, pressure and microwave) and drying (oven at 60, 70 and 80C; microwave at 350 and 700 W) processes were investigated. Neither the cooking methods nor the drying methods significantly affected the ash and protein contents of CB and CP bulgur. Pressure cooking gave lower phytate phosphorus and higher bulgur yield and volume increase values when compared to the other cooking methods. Average bulgur yields were found as 82% for CB and 84% for CP. Cooking processes decreased the phytic acid content of the bulgurs between 25.2 and 39.5% according to raw legume. Ca, K, Mg, P, Zn, Cu and Fe contents of the bulgurs decreased in variable degrees (8.69,28.5%) when compared to raw materials. Pressure cooked and oven (80C) dried bulgur samples in the case of bulgur pilaf were appreciated by the panelists in terms of overall acceptability. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Bulgur is a valuable cereal product with its high nutritional value and long shelf life. In this research, bulgur process was applied successfully on common bean and chickpea, and new legume-based bulgur products improved. The bulgur yield (BY) of the legumes was above 80%. Pressure cooking increased the nutritional, sensory and technological quality of the legume bulgurs. [source] PROTEIN, FIBRE AND BLOOD PRESSURE: POTENTIAL BENEFIT OF LEGUMESCLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 4 2008Ya Ping Lee SUMMARY 1Prevention of hypertension and improved blood pressure control can be achieved through dietary modification. In particular, population studies and randomised controlled trials have indicated a beneficial effect of both dietary protein and dietary fibre on level of blood pressure. 2A large population study indicates that an increase in 37 g/day of protein leads to a decrease in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure by approximately 3 and 2.5 mmHg, respectively. This protective effect is independent of the source of dietary protein. 3Meta-analysis suggests that a fibre increase of approximately 17 g/day will decrease systolic blood pressure by 1.15 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 1.65 mmHg, with soluble fibre showing a stronger effect than insoluble fibre. 4Protein and dietary fibre may have additive effects to lower blood pressure. One feasible approach to increasing both protein and fibre in the daily diet could be through the incorporation of legumes, a protein- and fibre-rich food. 5This review assesses the evidence for effects of protein and fibre to reduce blood pressure and the potential of incorporation of legumes into the daily diet as a feasible approach to achieving such benefits for blood pressure. [source] Underground Vetch (Vicia sativa ssp. amphicarpa): A Potential Pasture and Forage Legume for Dry Areas in West AsiaJOURNAL OF AGRONOMY AND CROP SCIENCE, Issue 3 2003A. M. Abd El Moneim Abstract Subterranean vetch [Vicia sativa ssp. amphicarpa (Dorth.) Aschers & Graebn.] is native to disturbed grasslands of the Mediterranean basin where heavy grazing, seasonal drought and erosion act as strong selection forces. It produces two pod types, above-ground and 5 cm below the soil surface. Unlike subterranean clover (Trifolium subterranean L.), which buries its seeds after flowering above-ground, subterranean vetch flowers and forms pods beneath the soil surface on underground stems. The aerial pods are produced after vegetative development ceases, while the underground pods are produced in ontogeny. The ability of this unusual vetch to survive in marginal areas with low rainfall (about 250 mm year,1) and to produce nutritious herbage and pods is an important characteristic which helps address rehabilitation of degraded rangelands and increase feed production for small ruminants. Research at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) during the 1988,93 growing seasons has assessed the herbage and seed productivity of underground vetch, its ability to grow in rotation with barley in marginal low-rainfall areas, and its capacity to regenerate after heavy grazing. Drier conditions in 1989 favoured earlier underground flowering; the number of underground pods was higher than that of aerial pods. Grain yield of barley (var. Atlas) was around 2.0 t ha,1 after underground vetch and only 1.2 t ha,1 after barley. Grazing underground vetch had no effect on the productivity of the succeeding barley crop. The aerial and underground pods serve two distinct functions; aerial pods increase dissemination within suitable habitats, while underground pods increase the probability of plant survival under adverse conditions such as drought and heavy grazing. Underground vetch has two potential uses, namely the rehabilitation of marginal areas and production in rotation with barley. [source] Intensity and Importance of Competition for a Grass (Festuca rubra) and a Legume (Trifolium pratense) Vary with Environmental ChangesJOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 12 2008Junyan Zhang Abstract How plant competition varies across environmental gradients has been a long debate among ecologists. We conducted a growth chamber experiment to determine the intensity and importance of competition for plants grown in changed environmental conditions. Festuca rubra and Trifolium pratense were grown in monoculture and in two- and/or three-species mixtures under three environmental treatments. The measured competitive variations in terms of growth (height and biomass) were species-dependent. Competition intensity for Festuca increased with decreased productivity, whilst competition importance displayed a humpback response. However, significant response was detected in neither competition intensity nor importance for Trifolium. Intensity and importance of competition followed different response patterns, suggesting that they may not be correlated along an environmental gradient. The biological and physiological variables of plants play an important role to determine the interspecific competition associated with competition intensity and importance. However, the competitive feature can be modified by multiple environmental changes which may increase or hinder how competitive a plant is. [source] Species-level effects more important than functional group-level responses to elevated CO2: evidence from simulated turvesFUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2004M. E. HANLEY Summary 1Using mixtures of 14 calcareous grassland plant species drawn from three functional groups, we looked at the effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on contrasting levels of ecosystem performance (species, functional group and community). Experimental communities were subjected to ambient (,350 µmol mol,1) or elevated CO2 (,600 µmol mol,1) in controlled environments, with grazing simulated by clipping at monthly intervals for 546 days. 2We assessed the effect of elevated CO2 on plant performance by quantifying the productivity (biomass) and cover of component species. We also examined the effect of elevated CO2 on the vertical structure of the plant canopy. Elevated CO2 resulted in a significant increase in total community biomass only following nutrient addition. Within functional groups, non-leguminous forb species had significantly greater biomass and cover in elevated CO2 both before and after nutrient addition, although the effect was mainly due to the influence of one species (Centaurea nigra). Grasses, in contrast, responded negatively to elevated CO2, although again significant reductions in biomass and cover could mainly be ascribed to a single species (Brachypodium pinnatum). Legumes exhibited increased biomass and cover in elevated CO2 (the effects being particularly marked for Anthyllis vulneraria and Lotus corniculatus), but this response disappeared following nutrient addition. Vertical structure was little affected by CO2 treatment. 3We conclude that due to the idiosyncratic responses of individual species, the categorization of plants into broad functional groups is of limited use in guiding our understanding of the impacts of elevated atmospheric CO2 on plant communities. [source] Seasonal changes in herbage mass and nutritive value of a range of grazed legume swards under Mediterranean and cool temperate conditionsGRASS & FORAGE SCIENCE, Issue 3 2007U. Sölter Summary Seasonal changes in herbage mass and herbage quality of legume-based swards under grazing by sheep or cattle were investigated at four locations in climatically different zones of Europe: Sardinia (Italy), southern France, northern Germany and south-west England (UK). At each location standard treatments were applied to legumes typical of species widely used in each locality: Medicago polymorpha in Italy, Medicago sativa in France, and Trifolium repens in Germany and in UK. At each site comparisons were made of two other legumes: Trifolium subterraneum and Hedysarum coronarium in Italy, Onobrychis sativa and Trifolium incarnatum in France, Trifolium pratense and Lotus corniculatus in Germany, and Trifolium ambiguum and L. corniculatus in UK. Legumes were sown in mixture with locally appropriate companion grasses, and measurements were made over two or three grazing periods. In Italy M. polymorpha swards gave the greatest herbage mass in grazing period 1 but H. coronarium was more persistent. At the French site all legumes established poorly with no significant herbage mass differences between treatments. At both the UK and German sites L. corniculatus maintained a high proportion of legume in the sward; T. repens showed poor persistence under continuous sheep grazing in UK but persisted under cattle grazing in Germany, while T. ambiguum was slow to establish in the UK, and T. pratense proved to be of comparable herbage mass to the standard T. repens -based sward in the last year of the experiment. The concentration of crude protein and in vitro digestibility of organic matter in the dry matter of herbage showed greater within-season variation than between treatments at each site. It is concluded that, in addition to currently used species, legume-based swards containing H. coronarium, O. sativa and L. corniculatus all have potential to contribute to forage production for low-input grazing and their use merits further consideration in systems of livestock production in Europe. [source] Food consumption patterns, dietary quality and health status of expectant mothers: case studies in suburban and rural communities in GhanaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CONSUMER STUDIES, Issue 1 2002Christina A. Nti Abstract The study was conducted to determine the food consumption patterns, dietary quality and health status of expectant women and also to assess their level of awareness of nutritional requirements during pregnancy. Food beliefs, taboos and superstitions held by the women were also investigated. Using the purposive sampling technique, 30 pregnant women attending the Maternal and Child Health Clinic at Dodowa (rural) and University Hospital, Legon (suburban), were selected for the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on the respondents' nutritional knowledge, beliefs, taboos and superstitions and health status. A food frequency questionnaire and the 24-h dietary recall method were used to obtain information on food consumption patterns and dietary quality. The study revealed that, although the majority of the respondents (83.3%) had some knowledge of nutrition, not all were applying it in their feeding practices because of financial constraints. With regard to consumption patterns, most of the women (83.3%) were having three meals a day, while the rest either ate twice a day or anytime they were hungry. Seventy-three per cent of the respondents also increased their food intake during pregnancy. Foods eaten were based mainly on starchy roots and tubers, cereals and vegetables. Legumes, oilseeds and fruits were often lacking in the main meals of respondents. Although animal products were consumed daily, the quantities taken were very small to provide for adequate protein, especially in the rural area. Various types of food were avoided by some of the expectant mothers for reasons such as nausea, loss of appetite, taboos and superstition. With regard to dietary quality, respondents from the rural area had diets of poorer quality in terms of nutrient intake compared with those from the suburban area. In both communities, iron contents of diets were quite low. Forty-seven per cent of the women interviewed were anaemic, with a higher prevalence of anaemia being observed in the rural community. Common ailments reported by the women were dizziness, headache, waist pains and malaria. Based on the results of the study, it was recommended that nutrition education for pregnant women should be stepped up at antenatal clinics especially in rural areas. [source] Ecosystem properties determined by plant functional group identityJOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Jennie R. McLaren Summary 1.,Ecosystem properties may be determined by the number of different species or groups of species in a community, the identity of those groups, and their relative abundance. The mass ratio theory predicts that the effect of species or groups of species on ecosystem properties will be dependent on their proportional abundance in a community. 2.,Single plant functional groups (graminoids, legumes, non-leguminous forbs) were removed from a natural grassland in northern Canada to examine the role of group identity in determining both ecosystem properties and biomass compensation by remaining species. Removals were conducted across two different environmental treatments (fertilization and fungicide) to examine the context dependency of functional group identity effects. 3.,The degree of biomass compensation in the first 4 years after removal was influenced by the identity of the functional group removed and also of those remaining. When graminoids were removed, none of the remaining functional groups compensated for the loss of biomass. Graminoids partially compensated for the removal of forbs or legumes, with the degree of compensation depending on environmental treatments. 4.,Light interception, soil moisture and soil nutrients were all influenced by functional group identity, with graminoids having a greater impact than expected based on their biomass contribution to the community. Legumes, in contrast, had very little effect on any of the ecosystem properties measured. 5.,For most ecosystem properties measured, the role of plant functional groups was not context dependent; functional groups had the same effect on ecosystem properties regardless of fertilization or fungicide treatments. 6.,Synthesis. We have shown that the effects of losing a functional group do not solely depend on the group's dominance. In this northern grassland, there are greater effects of losing graminoids than one would predict based on their biomass contributions to the community, and functional group identity plays a critical role in determining the effects of diversity loss. [source] Effects of two contrasting agricultural land-use practices on nitrogen leaching in a sandy soil of Middle GermanyJOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 3 2009Christian Böhm Abstract The objective of this study is to evaluate different agricultural land-use practices in terms of N leaching and to give recommendations for a sustainable agriculture on sandy soils in Middle Germany. Soil mineral N (Nmin) and leachate N were quantified at a sandy soil in N Saxony during 3 years. Two treatments were applied: intensive (I),using inorganic and organic fertilizer and pesticides, and organic (O),exclusively using organic fertilizer, legume-based crop rotation, and no pesticides. Split application of mineral fertilizers did not result in substantial N losses at treatment I. Legumes induced a considerable increase of soil mineral N and particularly of leachate mineral N (Nmin_perc) at treatment O. High Nmin_perc concentrations (up to 78 mg N L,1) were observed during as well as after the cultivation of legumes. These high Nmin_perc concentrations are the reason why clearly higher Nmin_perc losses were determined at treatment O (62 kg N ha,1 y,1) compared to treatment I (23,kg N ha,1 y,1). At both treatments, the quantity of N losses was strongly affected by the precipitation rates. Concentrations and losses of dissolved organic N (DONperc) were assessed as above average at both treatments. The results suggest that the DONperc concentration is influenced by precipitation, soil coverage, and organic fertilizers. Higher values were determined in the percolation water of treatment O. The average annual DONperc losses amounted to 15,kg N ha,1 at I and to 32 kg N ha,1 at O. The average monthly percentage of DONperc losses on the loss of the dissolved total N of percolation water (DTNperc) ranged between <1% and 55% at O and between 2% and 56% at I. For the whole measuring period of 29 months, the relative amounts of DONperc of DTNperc (21% at O and 25% at I) were more or less the same for both treatments. The results show that DONperc can contribute significantly to the total N loss, confirming the importance to consider this N fraction in N-leaching studies. It was concluded that at sandy sites, a split application of mineral fertilizers, as applied at treatment I, seems to be more expedient for limiting the N leaching losses than legume-based crop rotations. [source] Floristic composition of a Swedish semi-natural grassland during six years of elevated atmospheric CO2JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE, Issue 5 2002Mark Marissink Krok & Almquist (2001) Abstract. A semi-natural grassland in Sweden was exposed to an elevated CO2 concentration during a six-year open-top chamber experiment. Vegetation composition was assessed twice a year using the point-intercept method. The field had been grazed previously, but when the experiment started this was replaced with a cutting regime with one cut (down to ground level) each year in early August. From the third to the sixth year of the study the harvested material was divided into legumes, non-leguminous forbs and grasses, dried and weighed. Elevated CO2 had an effect on species composition (as analysed by Principal Component Analysis) that increased over time. It also tended to increase diversity (Shannon index) in summer, but reduce it in spring. However, the effects of the weather and/or time on species composition and diversity were much more prominent than CO2 effects. Since the weather was largely directional over time (from dry to wet), with the exception of the fifth year, it was difficult to distinguish between weather effects and changes caused by a changed management regime. In all treatments, grasses increased over time in both mass and point-intercept measurements, whereas non-leguminous forbs decreased in mass, but not in point-intercept measurements. Legumes increased in the point-intercept measurements, but not in biomass, at elevated CO2, but not in the other treatments. Overall, we found that elevated CO2 affected species composition; however, it was only one of many factors and a rather weak one. [source] Bioaccessibility of calcium, iron and zinc from three legume samplesMOLECULAR NUTRITION & FOOD RESEARCH (FORMERLY NAHRUNG/FOOD), Issue 6 2003Amparo Sahuquillo Abstract Legumes can be a source of mineral elements but also of antinutritional factors which can affect their absorption. An in vitro method including gastrointestinal digestion was used to estimate mineral bioavailability. Soluble (bioaccessible) and insoluble calcium, iron and zinc from white beans, chickpeas and lentils were determined after gastrointestinal digestion. The influence of the original sample weight on the soluble mineral fraction was also estimated. The results obtained show that white beans are the legumes with the highest bioaccessible calcium and iron contents. Lentils have a high iron content but its bioaccessibility is much lower than that of iron from white beans and chickpeas. An increase in sample weight increases the amount of bioaccessible element available for intake, but the increase is not always proportional. [source] The Pulvinus Endodermal Cells and their Relation to Leaf Movement in Legumes of the Brazilian Cerrado,PLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2007T. M. Rodrigues Abstract: Legume pulvini have a clearly delimited endodermis, whose variable content has been associated with the velocity and type of leaf movement: pulvini in leaves with fast nastic movement contain starch grains; pulvini in leaves with slow nastic movements have calcium oxalate crystals as well as starch grains in the endodermis. However, the studies carried out to date have involved few legume species. This study therefore purported to examine the consistency of this hypothesis in other legumes. Thus, the structure and content of the pulvinus endodermal cells of nine legumes of the Brazilian cerrado, with different types and velocities of leaf movement, were investigated: slow nyctinastic and heliotropic movements (Bauhinia rufa, Copaifera langsdorffii, Senna rugosa - Caesalpinioideae; Andira humilis and Dalbergia miscolobium - Faboideae; Stryphnodendron polyphyllum - Mimosoideae), slow heliotropic movement (Zornia diphylla - Faboideae), and fast seismonastic and slow nyctinastic and heliotropic movements (Mimosa rixosa and Mimosa flexuosa - Mimosoideae). Samples were prepared following standard plant anatomy and ultrastructure techniques. The endodermis of all the species contains starch grains. In the species displaying only slow movements, calcium oxalate prismatic crystals were observed in addition to starch grains, except in Zornia diphylla. In conclusion, oxalate crystals occur only in endodermal cells of pulvini that display slow movements, while starch grains are always present in pulvinus endodermal cells of plants with any kind of movement. [source] Germination and Initial Root Growth of Four Legumes as Affected by Landfill Biogas AtmosphereRESTORATION ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2000L. Marchiol The most important problem in the restoration of closed landfills is the production of toxic gases by decomposition of refuse. Such gases affect the root system of plants growing on these sites. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects induced by landfill biogas contamination on germination and initial root growth of Vicia villosa (hairy vetch), Lotus corniculatus (birdsfoot trefoil), Trifolium pratense (red clover), and Trifolium repens (white clover). In laboratory conditions, simulated landfill and control gas were supplied to the seedlings. The composition of the simulated landfill gas used was: 16% O2, 8% CO2, 3% CH4, and 73% N2; a control gas was also tested (21% O2, 0. 035% CO2, and 78% N2). Percentage of germinated seeds was determined after 6 and 12 days from the starting date; at the same time qualitative assays of metabolic root functionality were also performed by using an agar technique in order to visualize changes in rhizosphere pH. At the end of the experiment, the length of the primary and secondary root was measured. Germination after 6 days was affected by the gas treatment; the landfill biogas caused a delay in germination with respect to the control in seeds of V. villosa and L. corniculatus. Root fresh weight and dry weight were significantly decreased by biogas treatment in V. villosa and T. repens. In contrast, root dry weight was higher in gas treated L. corniculatus and T. pratense compared to control seedlings. Total root system was significantly higher in treated T. pratense. The qualitative assay suggests, with the exception of T. pratense, a metabolic adjustment of the treated seedlings. Key words: restoration, landfill biogas, legumes. [source] Exploring the Nutritional Potential of Wild and Underutilized LegumesCOMPREHENSIVE REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND FOOD SAFETY, Issue 4 2009Rajeev Bhat ABSTRACT:, Providing safe, nutritious, and wholesome food for poor and undernourished populations has been a major challenge for the developing world. Acute shortage, unreliable supply, and elevated costs of protein-rich foods of animal origin in the developing and underdeveloped countries have resulted in the search for inexpensive and reliable alternative sources of protein of plant origin. Some of the wild and underutilized legumes (such as,Canavalia, Mucuna, and,Sesbania, for example) have been investigated and found to possess rich nutraceutical value. However, the greatest impediment to utilizing these legumes is the presence of antinutrients, which could be successfully removed or deactivated by employing certain processing methods (cooking, dry heat treatments, germination, irradiation, among others). This review focuses on providing the details on some of the wild and underutilized legumes that might have high potential to be used as human food and animal feed, along with providing information for overcoming the malnutrition-associated problems and also for future commercial exploitation such as a source of nutraceuticals, for new food formulations, biofortification, and in product development. [source] Spatial and temporal organisation of the pre-dispersal seed predator guild in a perennial legume, Vicia tenuifoliaECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 2 2006Árpád Szentesi Abstract., 1. The variability of species combinations and membership assembly patterns in an insect pre-dispersal seed predator guild were studied at various spatial and temporal resolutions using presence/absence and abundance data in null models. The guild consists of seven beetle species (four bruchids and three curculionids) and one moth species that live on a perennial vetch, Vicia tenuifolia Roth (Leguminosae). 2. The seed predator guild varied considerably in the number of members and species combinations in space and time, and, contrary to expectations, there was no evidence of interspecific competition among guild members, supporting the view that other processes, including chance events, could contribute to guild formation. 3. It is concluded that, apart from the possibility of stochastic co-occurrence, it is the narrow host specialisation that constrains seed predator members to participate in the guild, and small differences in habitat preference can also lead to spatial and temporal variation. [source] INTERGENOMIC EPISTASIS AND COEVOLUTIONARY CONSTRAINT IN PLANTS AND RHIZOBIAEVOLUTION, Issue 5 2010Katy D. Heath Studying how the fitness benefits of mutualism differ among a wide range of partner genotypes, and at multiple spatial scales, can shed light on the processes that maintain mutualism and structure coevolutionary interactions. Using legumes and rhizobia from three natural populations, I studied the symbiotic fitness benefits for both partners in 108 plant maternal family by rhizobium strain combinations. Genotype-by-genotype (G × G) interactions among local genotypes and among partner populations determined, in part, the benefits of mutualism for both partners; for example, the fitness effects of particular rhizobium strains ranged from uncooperative to mutualistic depending on the plant family. Correlations between plant and rhizobium fitness benefits suggest a trade off, and therefore a potential conflict, between the interests of the two partners. These results suggest that legume,rhizobium mutualisms are dynamic at multiple spatial scales, and that strictly additive models of mutualism benefits may ignore dynamics potentially important to both the maintenance of genetic variation and the generation of geographic patterns in coevolutionary interactions. [source] The influence of below-ground herbivory and defoliation of a legume on nitrogen transfer to neighbouring plantsFUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2007E. AYRES Summary 1Both foliar and root herbivory can alter the exudation of carbon from plant roots, which in turn can affect nitrogen availability in the soil. However, few studies have investigated the effects of herbivory on N fluxes from roots, which can directly increase N availability in the soil and uptake by neighbouring plants. Moreover, the combined effects of foliar and root herbivory on N fluxes remains unexplored. 2We subjected the legume white clover (Trifolium repens L.) to defoliation (through clipping) and root herbivory (by an obligate root-feeding nematode, Heterodera trifolii Goggart) to examine how these stresses individually, and simultaneously, affected the transfer of T. repens -derived N to neighbouring perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) plants using 15N stable-isotope techniques. We also examined the effects of defoliation and root herbivory on the size of the soil microbial community and the growth response of L. perenne. 3Neither defoliation nor root herbivory negatively affected T. repens biomass. On the contrary, defoliation increased root biomass (34%) and total shoot production by T. repens (100%). Furthermore, defoliation resulted in a fivefold increase in T. repens -derived 15N recovered in L. perenne roots, and increased the size of the soil microbial biomass (77%). In contrast, root herbivory by H. trifolii slightly reduced 15N transfer from T. repens to L. perenne when T. repens root 15N concentration was included as a covariate, and root herbivory did not affect microbial biomass. Growth of L. perenne was not affected by any of the treatments. 4Our findings demonstrate that defoliation of a common grassland legume can substantially increase the transfer of its N to neighbouring plants by directly affecting below-ground N fluxes. These finding require further examination under field conditions but, given the prevalence of N-limitation of plant productivity in terrestrial ecosystems, increased transfer of N from legumes to non-N-fixing species could alter competitive interactions, with implications for plant community structure. [source] Dry matter production, nutritive value and efficiency of nutrient utilization of a complementary forage rotation compared to a grass pasture systemGRASS & FORAGE SCIENCE, Issue 3 2008S. C. Garcia Abstract In pasture-based dairy farming, new sustainable systems that involve the annual dry matter (DM) production of grazed and conserved forage beyond the potential of grazed pasture alone are being sought. The objective of this experiment conducted in Australia was to compare a complementary forage rotation (CFR) for conservation and grazing, comprising an annual sequence of three crops, namely maize (Zea mays L), forage rape (Brassica napus L) and a legume (Persian clover, Trifolium repesinatum L or maple pea, Pisum sativum L), with a pasture [kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) over-sown with short-rotation ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L)] as a pasture control treatment. The experiment was a complete randomized block design with four replicates (,0·7 ha each). Annual dry-matter (DM) yield over the 3 years averaged >42 t ha,1 year,1 for the CFR treatment and >17 t ha,1 year,1 for the pasture treatment. The high DM yield of the CFR treatment resulted from >27 t ha,1 year,1 from maize harvested for silage and >15 t DM ha,1 year,1 utilized by grazing the forage rape and legumes. Total input of nitrogen (N) and water were similar for both treatments, resulting in higher N- and water-use efficiency for the CFR treatment, which was more than twice that for the pasture treatment. Overall, the nutritive value of the pasture treatment was slightly higher than the mean for that of the CFR treatment. The implications of these results are that a highly productive system based on the CFR treatment in conjunction with the use of pasture is achievable. Such a dairy production system in Australia could increase the total supply of feed resources grown on-farm and the efficiency of use of key resources such as N and water. [source] Seasonal changes in herbage mass and nutritive value of a range of grazed legume swards under Mediterranean and cool temperate conditionsGRASS & FORAGE SCIENCE, Issue 3 2007U. Sölter Summary Seasonal changes in herbage mass and herbage quality of legume-based swards under grazing by sheep or cattle were investigated at four locations in climatically different zones of Europe: Sardinia (Italy), southern France, northern Germany and south-west England (UK). At each location standard treatments were applied to legumes typical of species widely used in each locality: Medicago polymorpha in Italy, Medicago sativa in France, and Trifolium repens in Germany and in UK. At each site comparisons were made of two other legumes: Trifolium subterraneum and Hedysarum coronarium in Italy, Onobrychis sativa and Trifolium incarnatum in France, Trifolium pratense and Lotus corniculatus in Germany, and Trifolium ambiguum and L. corniculatus in UK. Legumes were sown in mixture with locally appropriate companion grasses, and measurements were made over two or three grazing periods. In Italy M. polymorpha swards gave the greatest herbage mass in grazing period 1 but H. coronarium was more persistent. At the French site all legumes established poorly with no significant herbage mass differences between treatments. At both the UK and German sites L. corniculatus maintained a high proportion of legume in the sward; T. repens showed poor persistence under continuous sheep grazing in UK but persisted under cattle grazing in Germany, while T. ambiguum was slow to establish in the UK, and T. pratense proved to be of comparable herbage mass to the standard T. repens -based sward in the last year of the experiment. The concentration of crude protein and in vitro digestibility of organic matter in the dry matter of herbage showed greater within-season variation than between treatments at each site. It is concluded that, in addition to currently used species, legume-based swards containing H. coronarium, O. sativa and L. corniculatus all have potential to contribute to forage production for low-input grazing and their use merits further consideration in systems of livestock production in Europe. [source] Liveweight gains of lambs from Caucasian clover/ryegrass and white clover/ryegrass swards on soils of high and low fertilityGRASS & FORAGE SCIENCE, Issue 2 2007A. D. Black Summary The high nutritive value and persistence under a wide range of climatic and soil fertility conditions make Caucasian clover a potentially useful forage legume but there is little information about the performance of livestock grazing Caucasian clover/grass swards. This study compared liveweight gains of lambs grazing Caucasian clover/perennial ryegrass and white clover/perennial ryegrass swards on high fertility (Olsen P 20 mg L,1, SO4 -S 12 mg kg,1) and low fertility (Olsen P 11 mg L,1, SO4 -S 7 mg kg,1) soils from 1998 to 2001 in the South Island of New Zealand. Mean annual liveweight gains were 1178 kg ha,1 for Caucasian clover/perennial ryegrass and 1069 kg ha,1 for white clover/perennial ryegrass swards at high fertility compared with 1094 kg ha,1 and 1015 kg ha,1, respectively, at low fertility. There was a higher mean proportion of clover in Caucasian clover/perennial ryegrass (0·19) than white clover/perennial ryegrass (0·11) swards, but there were no differences in total herbage production between the two clover/perennial ryegrass swards. The mean concentration of crude protein in the herbage of Caucasian clover (302 g kg DM,1) was higher than that in white clover (287 g kg DM,1) and grass herbage (227 g kg DM,1). Estimated mean metabolizable energy concentrations in the herbage were 12·5 MJ kg DM,1 for the two clovers and 11·6 MJ kg DM,1 for grass herbage. The difference in liveweight gain between swards on soils of high and low fertility was associated with an increase in total herbage production of similar composition and nutritive value, giving a greater number of grazing days for the swards on soils of high than low fertility. [source] Environmental factors during seed development of narrow-leaved bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus tenuis) influences subsequent dormancy and germinationGRASS & FORAGE SCIENCE, Issue 4 2003A. A. Clua Abstract Narrow-leaved bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus tenuis) is a perennial forage legume adapted to waterlogged and heavy and infertile soils and can replace alfalfa (Medicago sativa) in areas with these soils in Argentina. Its seeds are hard and water-impermeable but the effects of environmental factors on seed dormancy and germination are not known. The objective was to evaluate the hypothesis that water availability during seed development and maturation affects the degree of hardseededness in L. tenuis by changing seed coat properties, conditioning water uptake through the seed coat; and subsequently affecting dormancy, germination and speed of germination. Seeds were harvested in December/January and in February in both 1993/1994 and 1994/1995 from a permanent pasture of L. tenuis growing in a Hapludol soil in San Miguel del Monte province of Buenos Aires. Environmental conditions of each anthesis-harvest period were determined. Seeds of each harvest were subjected to chilling, washing and mechanical scarification. After 12 months seeds from each harvest were observed in a scanning electron microscope. The water deficit of the soil and relative humidity were greater in the second than the first anthesis-harvest period in both seasons. In 1993/1994 the control treatment in December had a higher germination rate than the February control seeds (0·40 vs. 0·20) and a faster germination rate. Mechanical scarification and chilling significantly enhanced the germination rate (0·95) and its speed in seeds of both harvests. Low temperatures significantly enhanced germination rate, starting after 60 d for the seeds harvested in December, and 90 d for the seeds harvested in February. In 1994/1995 the results were similar but both the January and February control treatments had higher germination rates (0·60 vs. 0·40) than in the previous year. Seeds harvested in February were more dormant in both years. These differences could be explained by the conditions in February anthesis-harvest period in both years that could have hastened the natural dehydration process of seed, changing integument structure and enhancing its impermeability. [source] Nutrition and pharyngeal cancer: Results from a case-control study in SpainHEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 9 2002Ana Escribano Uzcudun MD Abstract Background Oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer is increasing all over the world, frequently affecting more and more women and younger individuals and not only the typical 50- to 60-year-old heavy smoker and drinking man. In addition, 5-year overall survival rate remains poor (30% to 40% in most series), despite advances in treatment. Therefore, it is crucial to understand as accurately as possible the risk factors for these malignancies to improve primary prevention. Methods We report the results from a case-control study of pharyngeal cancer risk factors conducted in Spain involving 232 consecutive patients who were gender- and age-matched with 232 controls. Data were collected by interviewer-administered personal interview. Results Our results show that low intake of fruit, fruit juice, uncooked vegetables, dietary fiber,containing foods (legume and cereals), fish, milk, and dairy products is an independent risk factor for pharyngeal cancer and that high consumption of meat and fried foods also increases the risk once data are adjusted for tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking. Conclusions Although findings for fruit, juice, and uncooked vegetables are in accordance with those from other authors and can be explained on a biologic basis, the relationship between pharyngeal cancer and dietary excess of saturated fatty acids needs experimental investigation. Findings for milk, dairy products, and fish also warrant more detailed epidemiologic research because of conflicting data reported in the literature and because of the reportedly ambiguous role of retinol in human cancers. No conclusive explanations for the protective effect of dietary fiber,containing foods can be put forward today. Our results are uniquely attributable to oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers because of the small size of our nasopharyngeal cancer subsample. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 24: 830,840, 2002 [source] Comparative studies of some properties of undehulled, mechanically dehulled and manually dehulled cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Walp.INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 4 2004L.) flours Summary A comparative evaluation was made of some physico-chemical and rheological characteristics of undehulled, manually dehulled and mechanically dehulled cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Walp. L.) flours from brown and white varieties of the legume. The flours were used to prepare steamed bean paste, ,Moinmoin', which was analysed for some sensory parameters. Dehulling and dehulling methods had no appreciable influence on the physical characteristics and proximate composition of the flours, except ash content, which was slightly higher in undehulled flour samples. Amylograph pasting characteristics of the flours showed varying trends because of dehulling method and/or presence of seed coats. ,Moinmoin' samples prepared from the flours received similar ratings for all sensory attributes, with no significant differences (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05), except for the low-rated (poorer) colour of the undehulled brown product. [source] Composition, soaking, cooking properties and thermal characteristics of starch of chickpeas, wrinkled peas and smooth peasINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 5 2001Beata Klamczynska We investigated both the distribution of protein, ash and starch in legume (chickpeas, smooth and wrinkled peas) cotyledons, and the soaking and cooking characteristics, including gelatinization and retrogradation, of the starch. There were large differences in composition between different types of legumes and also between the outer and inner parts of legume cotyledons. Wrinkled peas exhibited much higher water absorption during prolonged soaking and there were higher hardness value determined for cooked seeds compared with chickpeas and smooth peas. While the hardness of cooked seeds decreased continuously as cooking time increased to 110 min, all legume starch was fully gelatinized after cooking for 70 min. [source] Intercropping for the Improvement of Sorghum Yield, Soil Fertility and Striga Control in the Subsistence Agriculture Region of Tigray (Northern Ethiopia)JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY AND CROP SCIENCE, Issue 1 2005F. Reda Abstract Striga hermonthica is a major biotic constraint in the dry and less fertile areas of northern Ethiopia. Emphasis is being placed on improved cropping systems to address the interrelated problems of Striga and soil fertility decline. The potential benefits of intercropping were investigated at two sites representing different environments for crop yield improvement, soil fertility maintenance and Striga control. Ten food legume and oilseed crop species were compared in inter-row arrangement with sorghum under non-fertilized conditions. In most cases, there was no significant negative impact of intercropping on sorghum growth and development. Among the intercrops, two cowpea varieties , cv. TVU 1977 OD and cv. Blackeye bean , produced the highest supplemental yield of up to 329 and 623 kg ha,1 grain and 608 and 1173 kg ha,1 biomass at Adibakel and Sheraro respectively. Treatment differences on Striga infestation and measured soil fertility indicators were not significant. Nevertheless, valuable grain and biomass obtained from the legume intercrops, without seriously compromising sorghum yield, could offer multiple benefits as a source of protein, additional income, feeds for animals and manure in the subsistence agriculture regions of northern Ethiopia. [source] EFFECTS OF COOKING AND DRYING PROCESSES ON PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL AND SENSORY PROPERTIES OF LEGUME BASED BULGURJOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, Issue 5 2009NERMIN BILGIÇLI ABSTRACT The changes in physical, chemical and sensory properties of common bean (CB) and chickpea (CP) bulgur prepared with different cooking (atmospheric, pressure and microwave) and drying (oven at 60, 70 and 80C; microwave at 350 and 700 W) processes were investigated. Neither the cooking methods nor the drying methods significantly affected the ash and protein contents of CB and CP bulgur. Pressure cooking gave lower phytate phosphorus and higher bulgur yield and volume increase values when compared to the other cooking methods. Average bulgur yields were found as 82% for CB and 84% for CP. Cooking processes decreased the phytic acid content of the bulgurs between 25.2 and 39.5% according to raw legume. Ca, K, Mg, P, Zn, Cu and Fe contents of the bulgurs decreased in variable degrees (8.69,28.5%) when compared to raw materials. Pressure cooked and oven (80C) dried bulgur samples in the case of bulgur pilaf were appreciated by the panelists in terms of overall acceptability. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Bulgur is a valuable cereal product with its high nutritional value and long shelf life. In this research, bulgur process was applied successfully on common bean and chickpea, and new legume-based bulgur products improved. The bulgur yield (BY) of the legumes was above 80%. Pressure cooking increased the nutritional, sensory and technological quality of the legume bulgurs. [source] Effects of two contrasting agricultural land-use practices on nitrogen leaching in a sandy soil of Middle GermanyJOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 3 2009Christian Böhm Abstract The objective of this study is to evaluate different agricultural land-use practices in terms of N leaching and to give recommendations for a sustainable agriculture on sandy soils in Middle Germany. Soil mineral N (Nmin) and leachate N were quantified at a sandy soil in N Saxony during 3 years. Two treatments were applied: intensive (I),using inorganic and organic fertilizer and pesticides, and organic (O),exclusively using organic fertilizer, legume-based crop rotation, and no pesticides. Split application of mineral fertilizers did not result in substantial N losses at treatment I. Legumes induced a considerable increase of soil mineral N and particularly of leachate mineral N (Nmin_perc) at treatment O. High Nmin_perc concentrations (up to 78 mg N L,1) were observed during as well as after the cultivation of legumes. These high Nmin_perc concentrations are the reason why clearly higher Nmin_perc losses were determined at treatment O (62 kg N ha,1 y,1) compared to treatment I (23,kg N ha,1 y,1). At both treatments, the quantity of N losses was strongly affected by the precipitation rates. Concentrations and losses of dissolved organic N (DONperc) were assessed as above average at both treatments. The results suggest that the DONperc concentration is influenced by precipitation, soil coverage, and organic fertilizers. Higher values were determined in the percolation water of treatment O. The average annual DONperc losses amounted to 15,kg N ha,1 at I and to 32 kg N ha,1 at O. The average monthly percentage of DONperc losses on the loss of the dissolved total N of percolation water (DTNperc) ranged between <1% and 55% at O and between 2% and 56% at I. For the whole measuring period of 29 months, the relative amounts of DONperc of DTNperc (21% at O and 25% at I) were more or less the same for both treatments. The results show that DONperc can contribute significantly to the total N loss, confirming the importance to consider this N fraction in N-leaching studies. It was concluded that at sandy sites, a split application of mineral fertilizers, as applied at treatment I, seems to be more expedient for limiting the N leaching losses than legume-based crop rotations. [source] How are nitrogen fixation rates regulated in legumes?JOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 2 2004Joachim Schulze Abstract Symbiotic nitrogen fixation by the legume- Rhizobium symbiosis is a finely regulated process that involves significant carbon and energy metabolism by the plant. At present, there are three competing theories as to how the regulation of the process is achieved at the whole plant level. Theory one (carbon supply regulation) states that nitrogen fixation rates are regulated by either current nodule assimilate supply or through metabolism of assimilates into compounds that can be used by the bacteroids. A second theory (oxygen supply regulation) assumes that oxygen diffusion into the nodules is tightly regulated and is the principal regulatory factor for nitrogen fixation rates. A third theory (N-feedback regulation) suggests that a product of nitrogen fixation or assimilation exerts a feedback regulatory impact. The paper summarizes experimental data which support or reject the mentioned theories. Moreover, implications of nitrogen fixation under P stress and of phenomena connected with the argon or acetylene induced decline in nitrogenase activity for the understanding of nitrogen fixation regulation are discussed. It is concluded that we currently have no theory that explains all aspects and experimental results concerning the regulation of nitrogen fixation in legumes. With our growing ability to impact the process, e.g., by genetic engineering, this understanding of nitrogen fixation regulation has potential to be translated into agronomically sustainable benefits. Wie werden die Stickstofffixierungsraten bei Leguminosen reguliert? Die symbiontische N2 -Fixierung bei Leguminosen ist ein fein regulierter Prozess, der einen massiven Substanzumsatz in der Pflanze beinhaltet. Gegenwärtig gibt es drei konkurrierende Theorien über die Art, wie die Regulation des Prozesses auf Ganzpflanzenbasis erreicht wird. Eine Theorie (Regulation über die Kohlenstoffversorgung) geht von einer Abhängigkeit bzw. Regulation der N2 -Fixierungsraten entweder durch die Assimilatversorgung der Knöllchen oder von einer Limitierung des nötigen metabolischen Umsatzes der Assimilate in für den Bakteroiden verwertbare Verbindungen aus. In der zweiten Theorie (Regulation über die Sauerstoffversorgung) wird angenommen, dass die Sauerstoffdiffusion in das Knöllchen einer strengen Regulation unterliegt und dies der prinzipielle Regulationsfaktor für die N2 -Fixierungsraten ist. Die dritte Theorie ("N-feedback"-Regulation) besagt, dass ein bisher nicht zweifelsfrei identifiziertes Produkt der Stickstoffixierung oder -assimilation eine "feedback"-Wirkung auf die N2 -Fixierung ausübt. Der vorliegende Artikel fasst die bis heute gesammelten experimentellen Daten zusammen, die für oder gegen die genannten Theorien sprechen. In diesem Zusammenhang wird diskutiert, auf welche Weise die Regulation der N2 -Fixierung unter P-Mangelbedingungen erfolgt. Schließlich wird diskutiert, ob die Klärung der Ursache der Azetylen- bzw. Argon-induzierten Abnahme der Nitrogenaseaktivität zum Verständnis der Regulation der N2 -Fixierung beitragen kann. Es wird festgestellt, dass zur Zeit mit keiner Theorie alle Aspekte der Regulation der N2 -Fixierung erklärt werden können. Mit unseren beispielsweise durch die Gentechnik wachsenden Möglichkeiten, die N2 -Fixierung zu beeinflussen, wird eine solche Theorie nötig sein, um diese Möglichkeiten in landwirtschaftlich nutzbare Anwendungen umzusetzen. [source] Nutritional value of African yambean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa L): improvement by lactic acid fermentationJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 6 2005Marshall A Azeke Abstract Tropical African yambean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa L) is an under-utilised hardy, protein-rich legume. Antinutrients and the excessively long cooking time (4,6 h), among other factors, limit the food use of African yambean seeds. To reduce these limitations, non-traditional, less energy-consuming processing methods are required. Seeds of different varieties were (i) examined for ingredients and (ii) fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum. Comparisons with traditionally cooked beans were made. Protein content and in vitro protein digestibility were increased slightly by fermentation or cooking. Reductions in trypsin and ,-amylase inhibitor activity and tannin ranged from significant to complete. The contents of potentially very toxic cyanogenic glycosides and flatulence-causing ,-galactosides were high in raw beans. Reduction by fermentation (by 85%) was clearly more effective than by traditional cooking (10,20%). The results demonstrate (i) that fermentation can substantially improve the nutritional quality and (ii) that the energy requirement to produce a basic consumable fermented food from African yambean is only 10% of that of traditional cooking. On these grounds, widespread application of lactic acid fermentation by individuals or small-scale industries would be advantageous in the context of small-household economy, environmental protection, health and long-term sustainable agriculture in Nigeria. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Heat-induced denaturation impairs digestibility of legume (Phaseolus vulgaris L and Vicia faba L) 7S and 11S globulins in the small intestine of ratJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 1 2005M Carbonaro Abstract 7S globulin from common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) and 11S globulin from faba bean (Vicia faba L) were isolated to over 90% purity and the digestibility of the proteins, either in native or denatured (120 °C, 20 min, 1 atm) state, was tested in the small intestine of growing rats in acute (1 h) experiments. Native globulins were well digested (92 and 95% for 7S and 11S proteins, respectively). However, after thermal denaturation, protein digestibility of 7S globulin was reduced to 88%, while that of 11S globulin to only 79%. SDS-PAGE revealed that high amounts of the intermediate proteolytic products of phaseolin (MW 22 000,27 000 Da) were present in the small intestine of rats after 1 h digestion of the denatured 7S globulin, while protein material in the high MW range (>55 000 Da) were recovered from the 11S globulin. The overall negative charge of unavailable proteins from the 7S globulin was found by anion exchange,FPLC separation to be higher than that of products from the 11S globulin. MALDI-MS analysis of proteins in the small intestine confirmed the presence of half-size phaseolin subunits (MW 23 700 Da) as breakdown products from the denatured 7S globulin, and of highly hydrophobic basic subunits (MW 20 000 Da) from the 11S globulin. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||