Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria That Can Colonize Most Plants Discovered

Zothecula writes "Synthetic crop fertilizers are a huge source of pollution. This is particularly true when they're washed from fields (or leach out of them) and enter our waterways. Unfortunately, most commercial crops need the fertilizer, because it provides the nitrogen that they require to survive. Now, however, a scientist at the University of Nottingham has developed what he claims is an environmentally-friendly process, that allows virtually any type of plant to obtain naturally-occurring nitrogen directly from the atmosphere." The process involves injecting a bacteria that colonizes the plant and fixes atmospheric nitrogen in exchange for a bit of sugar, similar to soybeans. Only this bacteria will readily colonize most any plant.

Comments

Re:Let me guess...

[icebike]

GMO, Devil, Evil, Bad, KILLING HUMANITY!!! Organic Only!!!!!!!!

Oh, but this was discovered in Europe, or at least England, so its ok. No problem.

Unless or until its licensed exclusively by Monsanto, then, EVIL AGAIN!

Re:What could possibly go wrong?

[icebike]

Exactly.

Because its not the nitrogen fixing that is the problem, its all the other side effects of artificial fertilization that we could avoid.
As it is, some crop land gets planted in clover or alfalfa once in a while to fix nitrogen in the soil.

By the way Alfalfa already fixes nitrogen with the help of a bacteria:

Like other legumes, its root nodules contain bacteria, Sinorhizobium meliloti, with the ability to fix nitrogen, producing a high-protein feed regardless of available nitrogen in the soil.[17] Its nitrogen-fixing ability (which increases soil nitrogen) and its use as an animal feed greatly improve agricultural efficiency.

So this discovery is actually nothing new, just a more versatile strain of bacteria.