Graham and Vance Nontechnical Summary Graham, P. H., and C. P. Vance. Field Crops Res. The importance of nitrogen to agricultural production is well known. However, its use is a conundrum.
Sufficient nitrogen is required for crop yields and quality.
Yet overuse of nitrogen fertilizer is a major pollution problem for intensive agriculture. The use of nitrogen derived from symbiotic nitrogen fixation is essential to agricultural sustainability and effective management of nitrogen in the environment. Although significant progress has been made in the biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology of symbiotic nitrogen fixation, little of these fundamental advances have been translated into applied improvements. The literature research reported in this overview identified 7 research imperatives that will lead to on-farm increases in symbiotic nitrogen fixation. These findings are important because they provide a research framework for administrators and funding agencies to consider in funding decisions.