NITROGEN-FIXING PLANTS

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• Recently, a new study found that the Nitrogen-fixing plants are most diverse in arid regions of the United States of America.
  • The reason for this unfamiliar pattern wasn’t clear, but it might be related to how nitrogen-fixers and non-fixers utilize the element.
• The result of the study was surprising for the researchers because the nitrogen-fixers generally lack the characteristics associated with arid soils; like thick water-storing stems of the cactus.
  • One of the researchers mentioned that nitrogen-fixers are not easily adapted in arid ecosystems.
• The researchers were concerned that these adaptive traits may not ultimately save them from climate change.

Nitrogen fixation in Plants

• Air has 78% Nitrogen but most living beings cannot utilize this atmospheric Nitrogen. 
• Nitrogen fixation involves converting atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates, nitrites, or ammonia.
  • It supports agriculture and plant growth. Deficiency of nitrogen stunts the growth of crops.
  • Nearly 90% of the biotic nitrogen is fixed by microorganisms present in the soil.
• Legumes plants such as pea, broad bean, soya bean, clover and cowpea are the best-known nitrogen-fixing plants.
  • Their symbiotic relation with rhizobium bacteria fixes the atmospheric nitrogen.
• Lightning also contributes to nitrogen fixation.

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/nitrogen-fixing-plants-are-more-diverse-in-arid-environments-but-will-they-survive-climate-change--84496

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