Pulses are dried seeds; nitrogen-fixing crops
Q. Which of the following is/are true regarding Pulses?
1) All legumes are Pulses but all pulses are not legumes.
2) Pulses are nitrogen-fixing crops.- Published on 29 Aug 16a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
ANSWER: Only 2
- The term "legume" refers to the plants whose fruit is enclosed in a pod. When growing, legumes fix nitrogen into the soil, which reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.
- Well-known legumes include alfalfa, clover, fresh peas, lupins, mesquite, soy and peanuts.
- Pulses are part of the legume family, but the term “pulse” refers only to the dried seed.
- Dried peas, edible beans, lentils and chickpeas are the most common varieties of pulses.
- Pulses are very high in protein and fibre, and are low in fat.
- Like their cousins in the legume family, pulses are nitrogen-fixing crops that improve the environmental sustainability of annual cropping systems.
- The term "pulse", as used by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is reserved for crops harvested solely for the dry seed.
- This excludes green beans and green peas, which are considered vegetable crops. Also excluded are seeds that are mainly grown for oil extraction (oilseeds like soybeans and peanuts), and seeds which are used exclusively for sowing forage (clovers, alfalfa).
- However, in common usage, these distinctions are not always clearly made.
