The Diversity of Biological Nitrogen-fixing Systems in Kenya

Abstract

This paper outlines efforts to utilize Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF) technology through the utilization of microbial and plant components of symbiotic nitrogen-fixing systems that are encountered in a tropical environment. It underscores the immense potential that exists in the application of BNF research in tropical farming systems using the diverse array of nitrogen fixing systems found in Kenya and some of the factors that influence BNF such as the prevalent stress conditions (acid stress, nutritional needs) that exist between rhizobia at the genera, species, and strain levels. The contribution of non-leguminous systems such as Frankia, and the free-living and associative nitrogen fixing systems have also been considered as have the other symbiotic nitrogen fixing systems: Azolla, and Blue green algae.