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Assessment of biological nitrogen fixation in grassland and associated sites

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Summary

The extent of nitrogen fixation in native grassland on clay soil was measured using the C2H2 reduction assay. Undisturbed soil cores incubated in microcanopies in the field indicated fixation rates of 2 kg N/ha per season. Less nitrogen fixation activity was found in associated cultivated soils. Other sites on different soil associations were found capable of fixing 1 kg·N/ha or less per growing season. The fixation by several legumes and nodulated nonlegumes ranged up to 1.8 μg/cm2. h.

Phyllosphere samples of a moss, Ceratodon purpureus Brid reduced appreciable amounts of C2H2. An equivalent of 25 to 110 ng N fixation per hour was found per gram of organic material. C2H2 reduction in the materials used was related to the availability of light and Nostoc spp. were found to be associated with the moss. The major asymbiotic bacteria in the grassland soil were Clostridia although the relationship between numbers of this organism and nitrogen fixation was not significant. Klebsiella spp. were isolated and nitrogen fixation measured with C2H2 reduction and Kjeldahl methods. Both techniques indicated that the isolated bacteria fixed 30 mg N per litre of media during an 8-day incubation period. re]19720704

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Author notes

  1. K. Vlassak

    Present address: Laboratory of Soil Fertility and Soil Biology, the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

    K. Vlassak, E. A. Paul & R. E. Harris

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  1. K. Vlassak
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  2. E. A. Paul
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  3. R. E. Harris
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Vlassak, K., Paul, E.A. & Harris, R.E. Assessment of biological nitrogen fixation in grassland and associated sites. Plant Soil 38, 637–649 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00010702

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