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Biological nitrogen fixation: Investments, expectations and actual contributions to agriculture

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Abstract

Inputs of biologically fixed N into agricultural systems may be derived from symbiotic relationships involving legumes and Rhizobium spp., partnerships between plants and Frankia spp. or cyanobacteria, or from non-symbiotic associations between free-living diazotrophs and plant roots. It is assumed that these N2-fixing systems will satisfy a large portion of their own N requirements from atmospheric N2, and that additional fixed N will be contributed to soil reserves for the benefit of other crops or forage species. This paper reviews the actual levels of N2 fixation attained by legume and non-legume associations and assesses their role as a source of N in tropical and sub-tropical agriculture. We discuss factors influencing N2 fixation and identify possible strategies for improving the amount of N2 fixed.

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  1. Mark B. Peoples & Eric T. Craswell

    Present address: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia

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  1. CSIRO Division of Plant Industry, GPO Box 1600, 2601, Canberra, ACT, Australia

    Mark B. Peoples & Eric T. Craswell

  2. TAC Secretariat, FAO, Via delle Terme di Caracalla, I-0100, Rome, Italy

    Mark B. Peoples & Eric T. Craswell

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Peoples, M.B., Craswell, E.T. Biological nitrogen fixation: Investments, expectations and actual contributions to agriculture. Plant Soil 141, 13–39 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00011308

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