Enhancing water use efficiency in grain legumes: from agronomic practices to breeding strategies

The challenge of feeding a growing population in agriculture is becoming more difficult due to the dwindling water resources, especially under the pressures of global climate change. Boosting crop water use efficiency (WUE) is crucial for maintaining the environmental sustainability of food production in dry land areas. Grain legumes are extensively utilized for both human consumption and animal feed on a global scale, serving as a primary protein source for more than one billion individuals globally. However, the production of these legumes is currently facing significant vulnerability due to the impacts of climate change. This study aims to examine breeding strategies, physiological mechanisms, and agronomic practices for improving WUE in grain legumes. Enhancing WUE can be achieved by developing genotypes with higher water productivity (WP). The data came from Web of Science and Scopus data bases. It emphasized research published between 2018 and 2022. Specific keywords, such as ‘grain legumes, WUE, crop management, and breeding approach in Bangladesh as well as global perspectives,’ were used to search for publications related to the WUE on legume crops. Agronomic practices such as optimizing planting schedules, seeding rates, spatial arrangements, efficient irrigation systems, improved soil fertility, and mulching to reduce evaporation and control weeds can also improve WUE. Optimizing water use in legume-based system increases crop yield per water unit. Efficient water use in legume cultivation and enhancing crop WUE through molecular breeding can boost productivity by maximizing yield per unit of water used.