>It is entirely possible for a well-managed organic farm to capture all
>the nitrogen needed for "high-yield" production...
Amen! It is not only possible, it is absolutely necessary!
>Virtually all farmers (organic and otherwise) neglect the valuable role
>played by molybdenum in improving the efficiency of nitrogen
capture...This because the >nitrogenase component of the rhizobial nitrogen
fixation reaction is dependent on an Fe->Mo protein, with moly being the
limiting factor.
And of course the exact same nitrogenase (only one has eolved) catalyzes
free-living N fization as well. If moly is present, however, we should
attend the other factors limiting microbial N fixation (energy is often the
next one; Ca or P can also be a problem) and the factors that limit
stabilization of that N in organic forms (i.e. avoiding nitrification,
etc.) This is the essence of N management. All soluble salts of N,
including Ammonium Sulfate, inhibit microbial N fixation, a very good
reason to avoid becoming dependent upon them.
Regards,
Ronald Nigh
Dana, A.C.
Mexico, D.F. & San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas
Tel. y FAX 525-666-73-66 (DF)
529-678-72-15 (Chiapas)
danamex@mail.internet.com.mx
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