Nitrogen-fixing Plants for Temperate Climates

£12.00

by Martin Crawford, 2nd rev Edition, 1998. ISBN 1-874275-38-6. A4, 89 pages.. Plants which fix nitrogen (ie utilise nitrogen from the air) are some of the most useful plants in agriculture, horticulture, forestry and agroforestry. Their use can lead to much reduced fertiliser usage, lower losses of soil nitrogen through leaching, and improved soil fertility through increased soil organic matter. Most people only know of the legumes as nitrogen-fixers, however, there are several other plants groups which do so, notably the so-called actinorhizal plants (including alders, Elaeagnus, sea buckthorn) which are mostly of temperate origin and better-suited to cool temperate climates. This directory describes the different groups of plants which fix nitrogen, including the legumes, the actinorhizal plants, liverworts, and lichens. Most fixation occurs via a symbiotic relationship with bacteria in root nodules, and the nodulation status of temperate genera are listed, with notes on cross-compatibility between different strains of bacteria and different genera. The nitrogen contributions which N-fixing plants can make are discussed, and an overview of the different uses given, including their use in forest and fruiting gardens as well as in forestry and agriculture. The main parts of the directory describe over 450 different species and their in-depth uses. This includes tables, organised by plant type, showing conditions required and uses of all species. Available as a pdf.

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Description

Plants which fix nitrogen (ie utilise nitrogen from the air) are some of the most useful plants in agriculture, horticulture, forestry and agroforestry. Their use can lead to much reduced fertiliser usage, lower losses of soil nitrogen through leaching, and improved soil fertility through increased soil organic matter. Most people only know of the legumes as nitrogen-fixers, however, there are several other plants groups which do so, notably the so-called actinorhizal plants (including alders, Elaeagnus, sea buckthorn) which are mostly of temperate origin and better-suited to cool temperate climates. This directory describes the different groups of plants which fix nitrogen, including the legumes, the actinorhizal plants, liverworts, and lichens. Most fixation occurs via a symbiotic relationship with bacteria in root nodules, and the nodulation status of temperate genera are listed, with notes on cross-compatibility between different strains of bacteria and different genera. The nitrogen contributions which N-fixing plants can make are discussed, and an overview of the different uses given, including their use in forest and fruiting gardens as well as in forestry and agriculture. The main parts of the directory describe over 450 different species and their in-depth uses. This includes tables, organised by plant type, showing conditions required and uses of all species. Available as a pdf.