Role of Nitrogen Assimilation in Seed Development of Soybean

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Abstract
A nondestructive acetylene reduction assay for nitrogenase activity of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr) field plots is presented. Plots consisted of 120 × 150 × 30 centimeter boxes containing 65 plants. The plants were grown in a medium grade sand under controlled nutrient, moisture, and root temperature conditions. Acetylene at a concentration of 10 milliliters per liter was circulated through manifolds in the chambers; equilibration required 5 minutes, and activity was linear with time. Optimum growth and assay environments resulted in activity of 70 micromoles ethylene per plant per hour. Plant development and yield were comparable to soil-grown companion plots.