Index >>Nitrogen Fixation >>Acetylene Reduction Measurements

Acetylene Reduction Measurements
- Nitrogenase specifically reduces acetylene to ethylene. Samples of living microbes, root nodules, soil and water containing functioning nitrogenase form ethylene from acetylene.

Ethylene can be rapidly and precisely estimated by gas chromatography. It is essential that there should be no delay between the removal of tissues to be examined and measurement for nitrogen fixation. Samples should be examined immediately after removal from their ecosystems.

Acetylene reduction can be measured by
(i) in situ assays,
(ii) soil cores removed from fields,
(iv) pots containing plants, and
(v) excised roots.