Biological nitrogen (N) fixation is an important terrestrial ecosystem N input that occurs in both symbiotic and non-symbiotic associations with plants. Non-symbiotic nitrogen fixation (NSNF) has been documented in many places, including soils, but the magnitude of its inputs, along with drivers of NSNF rates, remains uncertain due to methodological challenges. We measured NSNF by applying a 15 N 2 tracer to field mesocosms th...

Key Message We mapped key regions of the maize genome that influence the formation of aboveground (aerial) roots, which in some varieties have been associated with symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Abstract Modern agriculture relies heavily on chemically synthesized nitrogen fertilizers, which ensure high yields but also carry high economic and environmental costs. Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) supplies high amount...