The Bunsen gas solubility coefficient of ethylene as a function of temperature and salinity and its importance for nitrogen fixation assays

The acetylene reduction assay is a common method for assessing nitrogen fixation in a variety of marine and freshwater systems. The method measures ethylene, the product of the conversion of the gas acetylene to its reduced form by nitrogenase. Knowledge of the solubility of ethylene in aqueous solution is crucial to the calculation of nitrogen fixation rates and depends on the temperature and salinity of the assay conditions. Despite the increasing interest in marine nitrogen fixation, no gas solubility (Bunsen) coefficients for ethylene in seawater are published to date. Here, we provide a set of equations and present semiempirically derived Bunsen coefficients for ethylene in water (ranging from 0.069 to 0.226) for a range of temperatures and salinities that are relevant for aquatic nitrogen fixation. We apply these data to nitrogen fixation scenarios at different temperatures and salinities and stress the importance of using accurate Bunsen coefficients in nitrogen fixation assays

Research Progress Report, No. 17

Legumes are notable for their ability to convert atmospheric dinitrogen into forms of nitrogen which are usable by plants. This is done in association with bacteria (called Rhizobium) which inhabit nodules of the plant roots. This process is called nitrogen-fixation. Legumes are important as forage and food crops due to their high protein content. Some are also useful for soil conservation purposes. There was no information on nitrogen fixation by legume crops in Alaska. This research was initiated to determine how much nitrogen different types of legumes can fix in interior Alaska

Yield, forage quality, residue nitrogen and nitrogen fixation of different forage legumes

Fixed nitrogen accumulated by legumes is the main nitrogen source for organic farming systems. Knowledge about the amount of fixed nitrogen, its pathways into forage yield, crop residues, soil-N and yield formation of the following crop is needed for designing crop rotations. In a field experiment conducted in Northern Germany differently managed (cut, mulched) legumes (red clover, alfalfa, white clover) in pure stands and in mixture with a companion grass (Lolium perenne) have been grown to determine Yield, forage-quality, N2-fixation and residue nitrogen. Cropped grass/legume reached higher N2-fixation than mulched. While green manure grass/legume left up to 296 kg ha-1 of N in mulch, stubble and roots on the field, most cropped grass/legume mixtures left less than 120 kg N ha-1 in crop residues. Cropped swards showed higher N2-fixation than the mulched mixtures. Swards with red clover or alfalfa reached higher legume contents and harvestable biomass than swards with white clover. Conclusions The results show that biomass production, forage yields, residue nitrogen and N fixation of grass/legume mixtures can be influenced by various combinations of legume species and management. The factors listed have to be considered carefully when planning crop rotations

Soil P Status and Nitrogen Fixation on Organic Dairy Farms in Ontario and Nova Scotia

Legumes are a key source of nitrogen (N) in organic production systems. However, there is evidence that reduced inputs may be leading to deficient soil phosphorus (P) on some organic dairy farms (Roberts et. al. 2008). This may affect crop performance and N fixation in forage legumes. This study aims to gauge the relationship between soil P dynamics in organic dairy systems and legume biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). The study has two main sub-projects: 1. A field survey of soil-test P and legume forage productivity and N fixation on dairy farms in Ontario and Nova Scotia, Canada. 2. Growth chamber and greenhouse studies examining: a) The role of P nutrition in legume growth and N fixation, and b) The P-supplying power of composts, struvite, and a rock P source. Field data was commenced in the 2008 season, and was completed in 2009. Growth chamber and greenhouse studies were conducted in 2009. Analyses of 2009 samples are not complete at the report date

Dinitrogen fixation and residue nitrogen of different managed legumes and nitrogen uptake of subsequent winter wheat [N2-Fixierung und residualer Stickstoff verschiedener Futterleguminosen sowie N-Aufnahme der Folgefrucht Winterweizen.]

Fixed nitrogen accumulated by legumes is the main nitrogen source for organic farming systems. Knowledge about the amount of fixed nitrogen, its pathways into forage yield, crop residues, soil-N and yield formation of the following crop is needed for designing crop rotations. Two field experiments were conducted in Northern Germany with differently managed (cut, mulched) legumes (red clover, alfalfa, white clover) in pure stands and various mixtures with two companion grasses (Lolium multiflorum, Lolium perenne) have been grown to determine N2-fixation, residue nitrogen and N-uptake of subsequent crops. Cropped grass/legume reached higher N2-fixation than mulched. While green manure grass/legume left up to 280 kg ha-1 of N in mulch, stubble and roots on the field, most cropped grass/legume mixtures left less than 110 kg N ha-1 in crop residues. Pure legume swards or legume rich mixtures showed higher N2-fixation than grass rich mixtures. N-uptake in late autumn and at maturity of the subsequent wheat was strongly correlated to the legume content in DM-yield

Fundamental organometallic reactions: Applications on the CYBER 205

Two of the most challenging problems of Organometallic chemistry (loosely defined) are pollution control with the large space velocities needed and nitrogen fixation, a process so capably done by nature and so relatively poorly done by man (industry). For a computational chemist these problems are on the fringe of what is possible with conventional computers (large models needed and accurate energetics required). A summary of the algorithmic modification needed to address these problems on a vector processor such as the CYBER 205 and a sketch of findings to date on deNOx catalysis and nitrogen fixation are presented

Methodological aspects of determination of biological N-fixation of different forage legumes [Methodische Aspekte der Bestimmung der biologischen N-Fixierung verschiedener Futterleguminosen]

Knowledge about the amount of fixed nitrogen of different legume crops is very important for calculation of farm N balances. According to literature the choice of determination method may have an impact on the estimated amount of N fixed by a legume sward. The aim of the study was to compare the three most important field methods for determination of nitrogen fixation under different sward management systems. In the present study the natural 15N abundance method gave lower fixation rates than the two alternative methods (total-N-difference method and 15N enrichment technique). The determination of N fixation based only on N in harvestable plant material underestimated the amount of fixed N on average by 70 kg × ha-1 compared to techniques including also the amount of N in non harvestable plant parts

Methodological aspects of determining nitrogen fixation of different forage legumes

Knowledge about the amount of fixed nitrogen of different legume crops is very important for calculation of farm N balances. According to literature the choice of determination method may have an impact on the estimated amount of N fixed by a legume sward. The aim of the study was to compare the three most important field methods for determination of nitrogen fixation under different sward management systems. In the present study the natural 15N abundance method gave lower fixation rates than the two alternative methods (total-N-difference method and 15N enrichment technique). The determination of N fixation based only on N in harvestable plant material underestimated the amount of fixed N on average by 70 kg ha-1 compared to techniques including also the amount of N in non harvestable plant part

Biomass production and N2-fixation in seven grass-legume mixtures

Inclusion of forage legumes in low-input grassland mixtures improves biomass production and soil fertility trough addition of nitrogen (N) from N2-fixation. The impacts of different mixture of legumes and companion grasses on the N production of the forage mixture have rarely been investigated under comparable soil and climatic conditions. We conducted a field experiment on a sandy soil at two nitrogen levels with seven two-species grassland mixtures: alfalfa (Medicago sativa), bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), red clover (Trifolium pratense), or white clover (Trifolium repens) in mixture with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), and white clover in mixture with meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis), timothy (Phleum pratense), or hybrid ryegrass (Lolium hybridum). Red clover and alfalfa fixed 400-500 kg N ha-1 and bird ’s-foot trefoil just above 100 kg N ha-1 in aboveground biomass. The white clover N fixation was affected by the companion grass species and ranged from 150 to 175 kg N ha-1. Fertilization had different effects on N2-fixation among the legumes, but also significant effects on white clover N2-fixation depending on the companion grass species

Denitrification by rhizobia: A possible factor contributing to nitrogen losses from soils

The intensive pastoral farming system on which New Zealand animal production is based is almost completely dependent upon the rhizobium-legurne symbiosis for the fixed nitrogen required for pasture production. The average annual fixation has been measured as 184 kg nitrogen/ha in developed lowland pastures Hoglund et cii., 1979 and about 13 kg nitrogen/ha in poorly developed bill country pastures (Grant and Lambert, 1979). From these figures it can be estimated that rhizobia in New Zealand pastures fix in excess of one million tonnes of nitrogen an nually. The current annual application of fertilizer nitrogen to pastures is about 12 500 tonnes (O'Connor, 1979)