New insights into divergent nitrogen fixation in subtropical forests
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 10-Jul-2025 03:11 ET (10-Jul-2025 07:11 GMT/UTC)
A recent study investigates the contrasting patterns of symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) and asymbiotic nitrogen fixation (ANF) along altitudinal gradients in subtropical forests. The research found that SNF rates declined with increasing altitude due to higher soil nitrogen availability and lower air temperatures, while ANF rates showed a hump-shaped pattern, influenced by soil properties at lower altitudes and climatic factors at higher altitudes. The study underscores the importance of distinguishing between SNF and ANF in ecological studies and Earth system models, providing valuable insights for improving global BNF estimates and refining model predictions.
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