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Trends in biological nitrogen fixation research and application

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Abstract

In the world each year 17.2×107 tons of N are biologically fixed. Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) contributes to plant production in arable lands and in natural ecosystems. Research to improve BNF is progressing through the breeding of efficient N-fixing organisms and host plants, selection of the best combinations of host plant and microsymbiont, and by the improvement of inoculation techniques and field management. Biotechnology is useful for the creation of promising N2-fixing organisms. However, to increase plant production through enhanced BNF the constraints in establishing effective N2-fixing systems in the field should be understood and eliminated.

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Ishizuka, J. Trends in biological nitrogen fixation research and application. Plant Soil 141, 197–209 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00011317

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