Interaction of Combined Nitrogen with the Expression of Root-Associated Nitrogenase Activity in Grasses and with the Development of N2 Fixation in Soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.)

Soluble root N concentrations of corn, sorghum, pearl millet, rice, wild rice, and soybeans were determined and related to measurements of nitrogenase activity and changes in availability of combined N to plants. In corn, sorghum, and pearl millet, applications of fertilizer N increased soluble root N concentrations, but root-associated nitrogenase activity was negligible in control and treated plants. Applications of NH(4)NO(3) to rice increased the water soluble root N concentrations and inhibited root-associated nitrogenase activity. In wild rice, root-associated nitrogenase activity was absent during vegetative growth and developed at the reproductive growth stage. The soluble root N concentration decreased progressively as wild rice grew indicating that the availability of combined N in the root environment declined. Therefore, development of nitrogenase activity in wild rice is associated with the change in availability of combined N in the root environment. The development of nitrogenase activity in wild rice was probably not due to colonization of roots by N(2)-fixing bacteria because most probable numbers of recovery did not significantly vary throughout the plants' growth cycle. In field-grown soybeans with or without fertilizer N application, we also observed a relationship between a decrease in soluble root N concentration and the development of nitrogenase activity.