Prospects of molybdenum fertilization in grain legumes-A review

Abstract

Grain legumes are indispensable sources of plant-based protein, predominantly grown for their edible seeds. They are characterized with their exclusive property of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in root nodules in association with Rhizobium bacteria. Balanced supply of micronutrients has been manifested to be as important as macronutrients for extensive growth and development of grain legumes coupled with improved Rhizobial activities. Among those micronutrients, molybdenum (Mo) is of prime concern. It acts as a cofactor for nitrogenase and nitrate reductase enzymes, which are directly involved in biological fixation and subsequent assimilation of nitrogen in legumes. Thus, Mo plays a crucial role in nitrogen metabolism and protein synthesis. It also facilitates diverse physiological and biochemical processes including photosynthesis as well as carbohydrate and sulfur metabolisms. Optimization of Mo nutrition is invariably linked with accelerated phyto-availability of other essential nutrients to crops. Nevertheless, positive effects of Mo fertilizers tend to be more pronounced under acid soils where plant available forms of Mo are negligible. Research efforts have proven the dynamic significance of Mo in magnification of physiological growth, yield potential and nutritional qualities of miscellaneous grain legumes including chickpea, lentil, pea, grass pea, red gram, black gram, green gram, common bean, soybean, groundnut, cowpea, cluster bean, horse gram and hairy vetch. Studies have also shown that, application of Mo is cost-effective owing to its minimum dosage applied. Therefore, the recommendation for Mo nutrition is a definite step forward for profitable cultivation of grain legume crops while maintaining the fertility status of soil.

Keywords:

• Grain legumes
• molybdenum
• root nodulation
• symbiotic nitrogen fixation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Authors’ contributions

Conception and manuscript preparation: PB and RN.