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.
