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Plants that contribute to nitrogen fixation include the legume family – Fabaceae – with taxa such as clover, soybeans, alfalfa, lupins, peanuts, and rooibos.They contain symbiotic bacteria called Rhizobia within nodules in their root systems, producing nitrogen compounds that help the plant to grow and compete with other plants.
The legume provides an excellent source of high-protein cattle fodder. [13] However, the fodder contains mimosine , a toxic amino acid. Horses and donkeys which are fed it lose their hair.
Its nitrogen-fixing ability (which increases soil nitrogen) and its use as an animal feed greatly improve agricultural efficiency. [33] [34] Alfalfa can be sown in spring or fall, and does best on well-drained soils with a neutral pH of 6.8–7.5. [35] [36] Alfalfa requires sustained levels of potassium and phosphorus to grow well. [37]
It grows best in regions with an annual rainfall between 400 and 700 mm (16 and 28 in). The ideal soils are sandy and it has better tolerance for infertile and acid soil than most other crops. Generally, 133,000 seeds are planted per hectare (54,000/acre) for the erect varieties and 60,000 per hectare (24,000/acre) for the climbing and trailing ...
The nitrogen-fixing clade consists of four orders of flowering plants: Cucurbitales, Fabales, Fagales and Rosales. [a] This subgroup of the rosids encompasses 28 families of trees, shrubs, vines and herbaceous perennials and annuals. The roots of many of the species host bacteria that fix nitrogen into compounds the plants can use. [4] [5]
Calliandra calothyrsus is a small legume tree able to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, [2] which has a positive effect on the nitrogen content in the soil. [5] Calliandra calothyrsus can be used in crop rotation with sugar cane [ 5 ] or with other crops. [ 13 ]
All nitrogen fixing plants are classified under the "Nitrogen-Fixing Clade", [6] which consists of the three actinorhizal plant orders, as well as the order fabales. The most well-known nitrogen fixing plants are the legumes, but they are not classified as actinorhizal plants.
Rhizobium is a genus of Gram-negative soil bacteria that fix nitrogen. Rhizobium species form an endosymbiotic nitrogen-fixing association with roots of (primarily) legumes and other flowering plants. The bacteria colonize plant cells to form root nodules, where they convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia using the enzyme nitrogenase.