Abstract
Biological nitrogen fixation is a very valuable alternative to nitrogen fertilizer. This process will be discussed in the “Biological Nitrogen Fixation” book. A wide array of free-living and associative nitrogen fixing organisms (diazotrophs) will be covered. The most extensively studied and applied example of biological nitrogen fixation is the symbiotic interaction between nitrogen fixing “rhizobia” and legume plants. While legumes are important as major food and feed crops, cereals such as wheat, maize and rice are the primary food crops, but do not have this symbiotic nitrogen fixing interaction with rhizobia. It has thus been a “holy grail” to transfer the ability to fix nitrogen to the cereals and this topic will be also addressed in these books.
Highlights
Nitrogen is arguably the most important nutrient required by plants, being an essential component of all amino acids and nucleic acids
Industrial nitrogen fixation alone accounts for 50% of fossil fuel used in agriculture
Carbon dioxide (CO2), which is released during fossil fuel combustion, contributes to the greenhouse effect, as does the decomposition of nitrogen fertilizer, which releases nitrous oxide (NOx), which is a greenhouse gas about 292 times more active than carbon dioxide [2]
Summary
Nitrogen is arguably the most important nutrient required by plants, being an essential component of all amino acids and nucleic acids. Modern agriculture has been highly reliant on industrial nitrogen fertilizers to achieve maximum crop productivity. A great deal of fossil fuel is required for the production and delivery of nitrogen fertilizer. Industrial nitrogen fixation alone accounts for 50% of fossil fuel used in agriculture. Carbon dioxide (CO2), which is released during fossil fuel combustion, contributes to the greenhouse effect, as does the decomposition of nitrogen fertilizer, which releases nitrous oxide (NOx), which is a greenhouse gas about 292 times more active than carbon dioxide [2]. How to cite this paper: de Bruijn, F.J. F. J. de Bruijn in significant environmental problems, such as the eutrophication of waterways [3]. There is a strong need to reduce our reliance on chemical nitrogen fertilizers and instead optimize alternative nitrogen inputs [1]
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