Nitrogen-Fixing Plants for Silviculture: Some Genecological Considerations
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Date
1979
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Abstract
Nitrogen fixation as a silvicultural tool will require symbioses adapted to the relatively harsh temperate forest environment. Ability to survive and fix nitrogen in shade, cold soils, and under water stress are characteristics that must be selected. Research indicates a great deal of genetic diversity among legumes and Rhizobia strains in response to some environmental factors such as temperature, while other potentially important influences have been studied little. Virtually no studies have been done in genotype-environment interaction among nonleguminous symbioses. The small amount of work available suggests that legumes may fix N at higher rates in shade than nonlegumes, although no experiments have specifically tested this question. Legume N-fixation may also be greater in cold soils than that of nonlegumes. Many legumes and nonlegumes grow in droughty conditions, suggesting that searches for drought-adapted species and strains may be worthwhile.