View source for Pulse (legume)

{{Mergeto|Bean|date=July 2007}}

'''Pulses''' are defined by the [[Food and Agricultural Organization]] of the United Nations (FAO) as annual [[legume|leguminous]] crops yielding from one to twelve [[grain]]s or [[seed]]s of variable size, shape and color within a [[pod]]. Pulses are used for food and animal feed.

The term pulses, as used by the FAO, is reserved for crops harvested solely for the dry grain. This therefore excludes green beans and green peas, which are considered vegetable crops.
Also excluded are crops which are mainly grown for oil extraction ([[oilseeds]] like soybeans and peanuts), and crops which are used exclusively for sowing (clovers, alfalfa).

Pulses are important food crops due to their high [[protein]] and [[essential amino acid]] content.
Like many leguminous crops, pulses play a key role in [[crop rotation]] due to their ability to [[Nitrogen fixation|fix nitrogen]].