|  |
Biological Associations: N2 Fixation1
R.M. Muchovej2There has been considerable advance in biotechnology techniques over the last few decades. We are able to produce genetically engineered crops with increased disease and/or insect resistance, increased nutritional levels, such as higher aminoacids contents. We can splice, hybridize, and multiply DNA and clone entire animals with the existing instrumentation and expertise. A lot of attention is devoted to more sophisticated techniques, whereas simple biological systems that could be better exploited by agriculture, may be overlooked or neglected. Some of these include the utilization and enhancement of symbiotic associations between microorganisms and plants. This report addresses one of these microbial symbioses: N2 fixation by the legume-rhizobia system.
Most crops are deficient in N or require large inputs for proper growth and development. Yet N is one of the most abundant elements on earth and comprises 78% of the atmosphere. Plants are not capable of utilizing N2 gas, and require that N be "fixed" in some reduced form in order to assimilate it and use it for aminoacids and, subsequently, protein synthesis, and fruit and seed production.
There are several ways by which N may be fixed: by lightning discharges, industrially (chemically), and through bacteria that can be free-living in association with grass roots (such as sugarcane, corn, forage grasses) or in intimate association with legume roots. Fixation by lightning discharges and precipitation contributes a small fraction of the N fixed, in the range of 3.5-7.5 lb/a per year.
Industrial or chemical fixation is the most often used form. However, as growers have been noticing, N fertilizer prices have risen drastically at all levels of the marketing chain, due mostly to the rapid increase in natural gas prices. Chemical fixation involves a catalytic reaction between atmospheric N2 and hydrogen derived from natural gas. The process is carried out at high temperatures and pressures to yield ammonia gas. Anhydrous ammonia can be used directly or as the building block for other N fertilizers, such as ammonium nitrate, urea, N solutions, and ammonium phosphates.
Symbiotic N2 fixation is achieved by the association between specific soil bacteria and the roots of legume plants such as beans, soybeans, peas, cowpeas,
Aeschynomene, Crotalaria, alfalfa, clovers, vetch, and peanuts, among others. The association results in the production of nodules on the roots and yields a system capable of fixing N2 gas from the atmosphere into N compounds usable by the plant system. In the mutualistic association, the bacteria obtain their energy in the form of carbohydrates from the host plant, which in turn receives usable N forms produced in the nodules. Efficiency of the symbiosis depends largely on the presence of inoculum but it also depends on soil N levels that are low enough to drastically limit the legume growth in the absence of N2 fixation.
Thus, if considerable quantities of a N fertilizer are applied to the legume at planting, the association is inhibited and symbiotic fixation is reduced or does not occur. Active N2-fixing systems are easily recognized by the pink coloration when nodules are cut open; inactive nodules have a green color.
When planting a legume in an area for the first time, inoculation should be done, unless an appropriate efficient Rhizobium is already present in the field. If conditions of prolonged drought, high temperatures, acidic or alkaline soils prevail, inoculation may be needed with each planting. Additional information on types of inoculants and on rules for a successful inoculation may be obtained from the IFAS Fact Sheet SS-AGR-154 Inoculation of Agronomic Crop Legumes . Inoculant costs a fraction of the seed costs and are well worth the investment. For example, a 50-lb bag of Carpon desmodium costs approximately $190.00, while a package of enough inoculant for the 50 lbs costs $3.60.
The quantity of N2 fixed by Rhizobium bacteria will depend on the N2-fixing capabilities of the specific legume, of specific Rhizobium strain-legume cultivar combinations and on environmental conditions. The literature reports the following values for annual N2 fixation on a pounds per acre basis: alfalfa, 112-300; red clover, 76-170; pea, 71-135; soybean, 58-105; cowpea, 58-115; and vetch, 80-122. If the crop is incorporated as green manure, the N2 fixed by the legume may be used by the subsequent crop. In a pasture situation, the use of a legume results in the increased protein content of the forage and a reduction in N fertilizer application.
Footnotes
1. This document is SS-AGR-171, one of a series of the Agronomy Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Published June 2001. Reviewed April 2004. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.2. R. M. Muchovej, former extension scientist, Agronomy Department, Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, Immokalee FL, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.
The use of trade names in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. UF/IFAS does not guarantee or warranty the products named, and references to them in this publication does not signify our approval to the exclusion of other products of suitable composition.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.
Copyright Information
This document is copyrighted by the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) for the people of the State of Florida. UF/IFAS retains all rights under all conventions, but permits free reproduction by all agents and offices of the Cooperative Extension Service and the people of the State of Florida. Permission is granted to others to use these materials in part or in full for educational purposes, provided that full credit is given to the UF/IFAS, citing the publication, its source, and date of publication.