Title | Potential environmental controls on nitrogenase activity in biological crusts of the northern Chihuahuan Desert |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2002 |
Authors | Hartley AE, Schlesinger W.H |
Journal | Journal of Arid Environments |
Volume | 52 |
Pagination | 293-304 |
Date Published | 2002 |
Call Number | 00803 |
Keywords | article, articles, journal, journals, nitrogenase activity, soil crust, biological |
Abstract | We used the acetylene reduction assay to analyse soil nitrogenase activity at the Jornada Long-Term Ecological Research site (northern Chihuahuan Desert, New Mexico, U.S.A.). A three-day irrigation and fertilization experiment showed that water and carbon (glucose) enhanced nitrogenase activity, while NH4NO3 reduced activity. Micronutrient (Mo, Fe, Co) and phosphorus fertilization had no significant effect. A survey of Jornada Basin soils did not reveal an inverse relationship between nitrogenase activity and the ratio of available nitrogen (N) to phosphorus (P), as hypothesized; however, the highest rates of nitrogenase activity were detected in tarbush floodplain soils with a low ratio of available N to P. These findings suggest that labile carbon and inorganic N may exert a stronger control on nitrogenase activity than phosphorus or micronutrient levels. |
URL | files/bibliography/21-013.pdf |
DOI | 10.1006/jare.2002.1007 |
Reprint Edition | In File (03/25/03) |