The Significance of Bean Plants (Peas, Sebarga, Indigo) In Improving the Agroecological Properties of Degraded Soils
Annotatsiya
Soil degradation remains a major threat to farming, especially in tropical regions where organic matter is low and soils are compacted. This study examined the ability of three leguminous bean species—pea (Pisum sativum), sebarga (Lablab purpureus), and indigo (Indigofera tinctoria)—to restore key soil properties over two growing cycles. A field experiment compared these three treatments against bare fallow. The results showed that all three beans improved soil health, but in different ways. Indigo gave the highest increase in soil organic carbon and microbial activity, sebarga was best at breaking up compacted subsoil, and pea released nitrogen most quickly for the following crop. We conclude that using these beans, especially in combination, offers a practical, low-cost method to regenerate degraded soils.