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duckweed and nitrogen



    Cyanobacteria which are resident on many plants, legumes in particular,
do fix atmospheric nitrogen.  Farmers do not always "need" to fertilize with
nitrogen.  Cover crops of clover can infuse the soil with usable nitrogen.
 This is possible because of the aforementioned cyanobacteria (not quite
bacteria, not quite algae), which exists symbiotically (presumably)  on the
roots.
              Tony


In a message dated 97-11-09 04:03:07 EST, you write:

<< No. Plants do not fix atmospheric nitrogen. They rely on bacteria to do
 that job. Nitrogen that is consumable to plants are in the forms of
 ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Atmospheric nitrogen is too inert for plants,
 that is why farmers need to add fertilizer containing nitrogen - ammonium
 nitrate.
 
 Bain
  >>