Leguminous crops are incorporated into crop rotation in order to

Leguminous crops are incorporated into crop rotation in order to promote nitrogen fixation. Leguminous plants form a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, Rhizobia, which live in nodules on their roots. These bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use, such as ammonia or nitrates. When leguminous crops are grown and then plowed under the soil, the nitrogen-rich plant material breaks down and releases this essential nutrient into the soil, making it available for other crops to use in subsequent rotations. Therefore, leguminous crops are important in maintaining soil fertility, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers, and increasing crop yields.