Biological Nitrogen Fixation Research Challenges - A Review of Research Grants Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (1994) / Chapter Skim
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2 REVIEW OF GRANTS
2 REVIEW OF GRANTS
Pages 33-47
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From page 33... ...
1 J ~ BNF by various legumes for example, common bean, pigeon pea, cowpea, peanut, bambara groundnut, rice bean, lablab, mung bean, winged bean Breeding for improved BNF BNF in farming systems BNF in tree and shrub crops BNF by Azolla-Anabacna azollae Environmental factors that affect BNF Modeling BNF systems Legumes as a food source Legume pathology 33
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From page 34... ...
· Associative nitrogen fixation Interaction with mycorrhizal fungi Microbial antagonisms REVIEW PROCEDURES The review procedures of the panel consisted of site visits and mail .
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From page 35... ...
MYCOGROE tablets contain fungal spores that infect and establish in newly formed roots, resulting in increased availability of moisture and nutrients, particularly phosphorus. · In Thailand, the transfer of technology from the BNF Resource Center to a commercial inoculant-production facility at the Bangkok Seed Company increased the use by farmers of rhizobial inoculants for soybean and peanut.
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From page 36... ...
In greenhouse trials in Florida, rice plants were able to use the released nitrogen, but limitations imposed by competition and predation in the field are yet to be overcome. · The use of azolla as a source of biologically fixed nitrogen for rice is limited by the need to maintain the living plants between growing seasons as a source of inoculum.
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From page 37... ...
The panel noted specific areas where these small competitive research grants had an impact: · Human Capital and Education The Environment · Fuels · Sustainable Agriculture · Scientific Knowledge · Social Benefits · Development · Benefits to the United States . Human Capital and Education The development of human capital is an integral part of all research programs.
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From page 38... ...
Further, annual meetings of principal investigators coordinated by BOSTID provided for an exchange of information and special training workshops. The training was in topics relevant to the research, including: serological methods for identifying bacteria; isotopic nitrogen and other methods for determining BNF quantitatively; tissue culture in legume improvement; molecular biology of BNF; and preparation of scientific articles for publication in refereed journals.
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From page 39... ...
Because some of these adverse impacts are global, it is of worldwide interest to emphasize research, development, and adoption of environmentally acceptable biological alternatives to fertilizer nitrogen. The AID-supported BNF program resulted in examples of benefit to the environment: · Seven grantees reported reduced national use of fertilizer nitro
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From page 40... ...
_ 1 1 ~- ·~-~L Sustainable Agriculture Legumes are used for food, fodder, shade, fuel, timber, green manure, and as cover crops. The agricultural systems in which they are grown in developing countries include plantation systems where legume cover crops, food crops, or shade trees are grown with tree crops such as cocoa, tea, coffee, rubber, and oil palm; tillage systems where legumes are grown with tillage in rotation or intercropped with cereals; traditional tillage systems principally represented by shifting cultivation and natural bush fallow; grazing systems which include extensive
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From page 41... ...
As plant breeders develop improved stressresistant, high-yielding varieties, superior rhizobial strains may be required to enable them to reach their full potential. In Sri Lanka, Costa Rica, India, Thailand, Senegal, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Cameroon, Egypt, Indonesia, Haiti, Kenya, Panama, Malaysia, and the Philippines, new isolations of rhizobia have been made and superior strains identified for use with local cultivars under local
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From page 42... ...
A PSTC grant aided a multidisciplinary group from Costa Rica, England, and Illinois in the United States to develop monoclonal antibody techniques to identify strains of geminiviruses. Surveys in Latin America indicated considerable variability in geminiviruses both between and within countries.
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From page 43... ...
If these organisms would "leak" nitrogen into the water, the rice would be able to use it directly (Roger and Watanabe, 1986~. In Florida, cyanobacterial mutants were produced that released significant quantities of nitrogenous compounds in laboratory tests.
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From page 44... ...
It not only increases growth rate but enhances uptake of water and nutrients from the soil, improves survival rate of seedlings, decreases pathogenic root infection, and improves soil structure. The examples cited above summarize the impact to date, but it is anticipated that the science and technology base will foster continued improvement in sustainable agriculture and agroforestry.
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From page 45... ...
Although a majority of the respondents indicated that the research had not yet had an effect on the practices and/or economic situation of farmers and producers in their country, approximately 30 percent reported a moderate-to-great impact on producers. Some examples are the increasing use of green manure, decreased use of nitrogen fertilizer by participating farmers, and sales of inoculant (Thailand's rhizobia inoculation program)
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From page 46... ...
The Brazilian government, in its alcohol program, is considering the utility of the work with sugarcane involving cultivars with high rates of associated nitrogen fixation. In the Philippines, research on mycorrhizae has led to commercial production of the inoculant "MYCOGROE" for forestry.
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From page 47... ...
REVIEW OF GRANTS 47 relevant to the needs of the developing world. In several cases, those interactions led to further collaboration beyond the scope of the original grant.
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