Estimating the true cost of dinitrogen fixation by nodulated plants in undisturbed conditions

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Abstract
Either symbiotic or nonsymbiotic N2 fixation in association with higher plants requires an appreciable amount of energy. This is mostly supplied by current photosynthesis, but an exact estimation of the true cost of the process is rather difficult. Simultaneous exposure of the association to 14CO2 and 15N2 for 1 day, analysis of labelled CO2 produced by soil respiration, and determination of N2 fixation make it possible to quantify the true respiratory cost associated with fixation. Preliminary trials with soybean suggest an amount of 2.5–7 mg C/mg of N2 fixed.

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