Florida Agricultural Experiment Station


and leaf. Legume seeds are borne in pods of various types; the
grass seeds are generally borne in glumes (hulls). The grasses
have a fibrous root system (no primary or taproot) while the
legumes usually have a taproot or branching taproot system.
Most leguminous plants also have nodules on their roots which
are formed by symbiotic bacteria. These bacteria in the nodules
fix nitrogen, thus leguminous plants are often known as nitrogen-
fixing or soil-improving plants. On soils where legumes have
not been grown the seed should be inoculated with proper bac-
terial cultures so that nodules will form on the roots.










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 FIG. 22.-GRASS AND LEGUME LEAVES.
 Typical legume leaf, left. Typical grass leaf, right.

 The grasses and legumes generally differ in mineral and pro-
tein contents, the leguminous plants being higher in minerals and
protein than the grasses. It is thus apparent that the fertilizer
and lime requirements of these 2 plant families differ. The legu-
minous plants need more lime, phosphorus and potassium than
the grasses. The grasses need nitrogenous fertilizers along with
minerals for best growth. When possible it is desirable to grow a
mixture of grasses and legumes. Leguminous plants improve the
quality of herbage and increase the yields by furnishing forage
and by improving the soil nitrogen and subsequent grass growth.