{"type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [{"id": "10.1007/s13593-011-0056-7", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-07-25T16:15:28Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2011-10-18", "title": "Legumes For Mitigation Of Climate Change And The Provision Of Feedstock For Biofuels And Biorefineries. A Review", "description": "Humans are currently confronted by many global challenges. These include achieving food security for a rapidly expanding population, lowering the risk of climate change by reducing the net release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere due to human activity, and meeting the increasing demand for energy in the face of dwindling reserves of fossil energy and uncertainties about future reliability of supply. Legumes deliver several important services to societies. They provide important sources of oil, fiber, and protein-rich food and feed while supplying nitrogen (N) to agro-ecosystems via their unique ability to fix atmospheric N2 in symbiosis with the soil bacteria rhizobia, increasing soil carbon content, and stimulating the productivity of the crops that follow. However, the role of legumes has rarely been considered in the context of their potential to contribute to the mitigation of climate change by reducing fossil fuel use or by providing feedstock for the emerging biobased economies where fossil sources of energy and industrial raw materials are replaced in part by sustainable and renewable biomass resources. The aim of this review was to collate the current knowledge regarding the capacity of legumes to (1) lower the emissions of the key greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) compared to N-fertilized systems, (2) reduce the fossil energy used in the production of food and forage, (3) contribute to the sequestration of carbon (C) in soils, and (4) provide a viable source of biomass for the generation of biofuels and other materials in future biorefinery concepts. We estimated that globally between 350 and 500\u00a0Tg\u00a0CO2 could be emitted as a result of the 33 to 46\u00a0Tg\u00a0N that is biologically fixed by agricultural legumes each year. This compares to around 300\u00a0Tg\u00a0CO2 released annually from the manufacture of 100\u00a0Tg fertilizer N. The main difference is that the CO2 respired from the nodulated roots of N2-fixing legumes originated from photosynthesis and will not represent a net contribution to atmospheric concentrations of CO2, whereas the CO2 generated during the synthesis of N fertilizer was derived from fossil fuels. Experimental measures of total N2O fluxes from legumes and N-fertilized systems were found to vary enormously (0.03\u20137.09 and 0.09\u201318.16\u00a0kg\u00a0N2O\u2013N\u00a0ha\u22121, respectively). This reflected the data being collated from a diverse range of studies using different rates of N inputs, as well as the large number of climatic, soil, and management variables known to influence denitrification and the portion of the total N lost as N2O. Averages across 71 site-years of data, soils under legumes emitted a total of 1.29\u00a0kg\u00a0N2O\u2013N\u00a0ha\u22121 during a growing season. This compared to a mean of 3.22\u00a0kg\u00a0N2O\u2013N\u00a0ha\u22121 from 67 site-years of N-fertilized crops and pastures, and 1.20\u00a0kg\u00a0N2O\u2013N\u00a0ha\u22121 from 33 site-years of data collected from unplanted soils or unfertilized non-legumes. It was concluded that there was little evidence that biological N2 fixation substantially contributed to total N2O emissions, and that losses of N2O from legume soil were generally lower than N-fertilized systems, especially when commercial rates of N fertilizer were applied. Elevated rates of N2O losses can occur following the termination of legume-based pastures, or where legumes had been green- or brown-manured and there was a rapid build-up of high concentrations of nitrate in soil. Legume crops and legume-based pastures use 35% to 60% less fossil energy than N-fertilized cereals or grasslands, and the inclusion of legumes in cropping sequences reduced the average annual energy usage over a rotation by 12% to 34%. The reduced energy use was primarily due to the removal of the need to apply N fertilizer and the subsequently lower N fertilizer requirements for crops grown following legumes. Life cycle energy balances of legume-based rotations were also assisted by a lower use of agrichemicals for crop protection as diversification of cropping sequences reduce the incidence of cereal pathogens and pests and assisted weed control, although it was noted that differences in fossil energy use between legumes and N-fertilized systems were greatly diminished if energy use was expressed per unit of biomass or grain produced. For a change in land use to result in a net increase C sequestration in soil, the inputs of C remaining in plant residues need to exceed the CO2 respired by soil microbes during the decomposition of plant residues or soil organic C, and the C lost through wind or water erosion. The net N-balance of the system was a key driver of changes in soil C stocks in many environments, and data collected from pasture, cropping, and agroforestry systems all indicated that legumes played a pivotal role in providing the additional organic N required to encourage the accumulation of soil C at rates greater than can be achieved by cereals or grasses even when they were supplied with N fertilizer. Legumes contain a range of compounds, which could be refined to produce raw industrial materials currently manufactured from petroleum-based sources, pharmaceuticals, surfactants, or food additives as valuable by-products if legume biomass was to be used to generate biodiesel, bioethanol, biojet A1 fuel, or biogas. The attraction of using leguminous material feedstock is that they do not need the inputs of N fertilizer that would otherwise be necessary to support the production of high grain yields or large amounts of plant biomass since it is the high fossil energy use in the synthesis, transport, and application of N fertilizers that often negates much of the net C benefits of many other bioenergy sources. The use of legume biomass for biorefineries needs careful thought as there will be significant trade-offs with the current role of legumes in contributing to the organic fertility of soils. Agricultural systems will require novel management and plant breeding solutions to provide the range of options that will be required to mitigate climate change. Given their array of ecosystem services and their ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower the use of fossil energy, accelerate rates of C sequestration in soil, and provide a valuable source of feedstock for biorefineries, legumes should be considered as important components in the development of future agroecosystems.", "keywords": ["Carbon sequestration", "2. Zero hunger", "[SDV.SA] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Agricultural sciences", "571", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "Legumes", "Air and water emissions", "Greenhouses and coverings", "7. Clean energy", "Biorefinery", "12. Responsible consumption", "[SDV.EE] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology", " environment", "Greenhouse gases", "2305 Environmental Engineering", "13. Climate action", "Biological N2 fixation", "Biofuels", "11. Sustainability", "Farm nutrient management", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Recycling", " balancing and resource management", "1102 Agronomy and Crop Science"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-011-0056-7"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Agronomy%20for%20Sustainable%20Development", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1007/s13593-011-0056-7", "name": "item", "description": "10.1007/s13593-011-0056-7", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1007/s13593-011-0056-7"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2011-10-19T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.04.101", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-07-25T16:16:53Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2013-05-27", "title": "Turnover Of Organic Carbon And Nitrogen In Soil Assessed From \u039413c And \u039415n Changes Under Pasture And Cropping Practices And Estimates Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions", "description": "The continuing clearance of native vegetation for pasture, and especially cropping, is a concern due to declines in soil organic C (SOC) and N, deteriorating soil health, and adverse environment impact such as increased emissions of major greenhouse gases (CO2, N2O and CH4). There is a need to quantify the rates of SOC and N budget changes, and the impact on greenhouse gas emissions from land use change in semi-arid subtropical regions where such data are scarce, so as to assist in developing appropriate management practices. We quantified the turnover rate of SOC from changes in \u03b4(13)C following the conversion of C3 native vegetation to C4 perennial pasture and mixed C3/C4 cereal cropping (wheat/sorghum), as well as \u03b4(15)N changes following the conversion of legume native vegetation to non-legume systems over 23 years. Perennial pasture (Cenchrus ciliaris cv. Biloela) maintained SOC but lost total N by more than 20% in the top 0-0.3m depth of soil, resulting in reduced animal productivity from the grazed pasture. Annual cropping depleted both SOC and total soil N by 34% and 38%, respectively, and resulted in decreasing cereal crop yields. Most of these losses of SOC and total N occurred from the >250 \u03bcm fraction of soil. Moreover, this fraction had almost a magnitude higher turnover rates than the 250-53 \u03bcm and <53 \u03bcm fractions. Loss of SOC during the cropping period contributed two-orders of magnitude more CO2-e to the atmosphere than the pasture system. Even then, the pasture system is not considered as a benchmark of agricultural sustainability because of its decreasing productivity in this semi-arid subtropical environment. Introduction of legumes (for N2 fixation) into perennial pastures may arrest the productivity decline of this system. Restoration of SOC in the cropped system will require land use change to perennial ecosystems such as legume-grass pastures or native vegetation.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "2311 Waste Management and Disposal", "12. Responsible consumption", "Greenhouse gases", "2305 Environmental Engineering", "13. Climate action", "2304 Environmental Chemistry", "2310 Pollution", "11. Sustainability", "\u03b413C", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "C turnover", "\u03b415N"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.04.101"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Science%20of%20The%20Total%20Environment", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.04.101", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.04.101", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.04.101"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2013-11-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.12.107", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-07-25T16:16:53Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2016-01-09", "title": "Partitioning Of Carbon Sources Among Functional Pools To Investigate Short-Term Priming Effects Of Biochar In Soil: A C-13 Study", "description": "Biochar sequesters carbon (C) in soils because of its prolonged residence time, ranging from several years to millennia. In addition, biochar can promote indirect C-sequestration by increasing crop yield while, potentially, reducing C-mineralization. This laboratory study was set up to evaluate effects of biochar on C-mineralization with due attention to source appointment by using (13)C isotope signatures. An arable soil (S) (7.9 g organic C, OC kg(-1)) was amended (single dose of 10 g kg(-1) soil) with dried, grinded maize stover (leaves and stalks), either natural (R) or (13)C enriched (R*), and/or biochar (B/B*) prepared from the maize stover residues (450 \u00b0C). Accordingly, seven different combinations were set up (S, SR, SB, SR*, SB*, SRB*, SR*B) to trace the source of C in CO2 (180 days), dissolved organic-C (115 days) and OC in soil aggregate fractions (90 days). The application of biochar to soil reduced the mineralization of native soil organic C but the effect on maize stover-C mineralization was not consistent. Biochar application decreased the mineralization of the non-enriched maize stover after 90 days, this being consistent with a significant reduction of dissolved organic C concentration from 45 to 18 mg L(-1). However, no significant effect was observed for the enriched maize stover, presumably due to differences between the natural and enriched materials. The combined addition of biochar and enriched maize stover significantly increased (twofold) the presence of native soil organic C or maize derived C in the free microaggregate fraction relative to soil added only with stover. Although consistent effects among C sources and biochar materials remains elusive, our outcomes indicate that some biochar products can reduce mineralization and solubilization of other sources of C while promoting their physical protection in soil particles.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "550", "Soil organic carbon", "Stable Isotopes", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "630", "6. Clean water", "2311 Waste Management and Disposal", "Biochar", "2305 Environmental Engineering", "Priming", "2304 Environmental Chemistry", "2310 Pollution", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Soil aggregates"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.12.107"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Science%20of%20The%20Total%20Environment", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.12.107", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.12.107", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.12.107"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2016-03-01T00:00:00Z"}}], "links": [{"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "This document as GeoJSON", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=2305+Environmental+Engineering&f=json", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"rel": "alternate", "type": "text/html", "title": "This document as HTML", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=2305+Environmental+Engineering&f=html", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection URL", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"type": "application/geo+json", "rel": "first", "title": "items (first)", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=2305+Environmental+Engineering&", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"rel": "last", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "items (last)", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=2305+Environmental+Engineering&offset=3", "hreflang": "en-US"}], "numberMatched": 3, "numberReturned": 3, "distributedFeatures": [], "timeStamp": "2026-07-26T06:04:32.017709Z"}