Abstract
Attention is drawn to our lack of understanding of the factors limiting nitrogen fixation in the field. A flow through apparatus for measuring nitrogenase activity in field crops is described. A marked seasonal variation in nitrogenase activity in sainfoin was observed which was, in part, the result of the effect of defoliation. The acetylene based estimate of the nitrogen fixed annually by sainfoin was 146 kg ha-1 less than the nitrogen accumulated in the shoots. There were no treatment differences between the rates of growth of either sainfoin or lucerne when grown with or without fertiliser nitrogen in the field.
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© 1988 ECSC, EEC, EAEC, Brussels and Luxembourg
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Sheehy, J.E., McNeill, A. (1988). Factors Controlling Legume Nitrogen Fixation and their Measurement in the Field. In: O’Gara, F., Manian, S., Drevon, J.J. (eds) Physiological Limitations and the Genetic Improvement of Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation. Advances in Agricultural Biotechnology, vol 23. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1401-8_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1401-8_10
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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