The+bean

The biochemical reduction of atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia and protein nitrogen in lateral root nodules by the symbiotic bacterium //Rhizobium//, supply part of the nitrogen requirements of this family. Nitrogen fixation is considered an important physiological process for plants in this family. To some degree however, this symbiotic relationship limits economic yields of legumes, since energy must be diverted from dry matter accumulation to drive the reduction of nitrogen in protein. For the major vegetable legumes of commercial importance, snap beans, lima beans and sugar peas, nitrogen fixation is not an efficient source of nitrogen for plant growth. Fertilizer applications of nitrogen in the commercial production of these plants are required and the application of nitrogen fertilizer suppresses nitrogen fixation. All these crops require supplemental fertilizer from applied fertilizers, nutrients contained in the soil, organic matter or cover crop residue breakdown. However, in lessor developed countries where fertilizer cost are prohibitive, nitrogen fixation is an important part of supplying the nitrogen requirements of certain food legumes to produce a limited yield but one that is important to substaining a food source for their diet.**
 * media type="custom" key="677615"__FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS__**
 * Beans originated in southern Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Rica and all are members of the Leguminoseae, a family of plants with worldwide distribution. There are nearly 30 legume species used as vegetables, most of which are important in countries other than the United States. A few are grown for tuber or tuberous roots, but most are grown for seeds or pods. In the United States, those with commercial significance are garden pea, cowpea, snap bean, lima bean, soybean, mung bean, dry field types such as navy, pinto, kidney beans and, to a lesser extent, chickpea, lentil, and fava beans. Both immature and mature seeds of these food legumes provide an important dietary source of carbohydrates and proteins in both underdeveloped and developed countries. The immature pod contains vitamins A and C, while dry seeds contain protein, carbohydrates and some of the essential minerals.