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Non‐symbiotic nitrogen fixation in some soils of England and Wales
Author(s) -
LOCKYER D. R.,
COWLING D. W.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
grass and forage science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1365-2494
pISSN - 0142-5242
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2494.1977.tb01406.x
Subject(s) - nitrogen fixation , nitrogen , algae , soil water , fixation (population genetics) , blue green algae , fertilizer , agronomy , environmental science , chemistry , botany , biology , soil science , cyanobacteria , biochemistry , genetics , organic chemistry , gene , bacteria
The acetylene‐reduction method was used to estimate the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen by non‐symbiotic micro‐organisms in soils from England and Wales. Significant fixation was found only in the surface horizon of the soil (0–1 cm) and was much higher in the light than in the dark. The highest rates were found with samples having a well‐developed surface film of blue‐green algae and were from 6 to 10 g ha −1 N per h. Generally, rates were very much lower. The addition of fertilizer nitrogen at 100 kg ha −1 markedly reduced N fixation by blue‐green algae.