N-fixation in legumes – an assessment of the potential threat posed by ozone pollution

Hewitt, D.K.L.; Mills, G.; Hayes, F. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1037-5725; Norris, D.; Coyle, M.; Wilkinson, S.; Davies, W.. 2016 N-fixation in legumes – an assessment of the potential threat posed by ozone pollution. Environmental Pollution, 208 (B). 909-918. 10.1016/j.envpol.2015.09.016

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2015.09.016

Abstract/Summary

The growth, development and functioning of legumes are often significantly affected by exposure to tropospheric ozone (O3) pollution. However, surprisingly little is known about how leguminous Nitrogen (N) fixation responds to ozone, with a scarcity of studies addressing this question in detail. In the last decade, ozone impacts on N-fixation in soybean, cowpea, mung bean, peanut and clover have been shown for concentrations which are now commonly recorded in ambient air or are likely to occur in the near future. We provide a synthesis of the existing literature addressing this issue, and also explore the effects that may occur on an agroecosystem scale by predicting reductions in Trifolium (clovers) root nodule biomass in United Kingdom (UK) pasture based on ozone concentration data for a “high” (2006) and “average” ozone year (2008). Median 8% and 5% reductions in clover root nodule biomass in pasture across the UK were predicted for 2006 and 2008 respectively. Seasonal exposure to elevated ozone, or short-term acute concentrations >100 ppb, are sufficient to reduce N-fixation and/or impact nodulation, in a range of globally-important legumes. However, an increasing global burden of CO2, the use of artificial fertiliser, and reactive N-pollution may partially mitigate impacts of ozone on N-fixation.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.envpol.2015.09.016
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Dise Emmett
ISSN:	0269-7491
Additional Keywords:	clover, nodulation, ozone, nitrogen fixation, pasture, background ozone
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Agriculture and Soil Science Atmospheric Sciences
Date made live:	13 Jan 2016 16:04 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/512546

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1016/j.envpol.2015.09.016

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Dise
Emmett

ISSN:

0269-7491

Additional Keywords:

clover, nodulation, ozone, nitrogen fixation, pasture, background ozone

NORA Subject Terms:

Ecology and Environment
Agriculture and Soil Science
Atmospheric Sciences