nitrogen fixation
- noun
- /ˈnaɪtrədʒən fɪkˈseɪʃən/
- Specialized
:
fijación de nitrógeno
- Farmers rely on nitrogen fixation to enhance the fertility of their fields naturally.
- biological nitrogen fixation
- nitrogen fixation rate
Examples
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Nitrogen fixation is essential for enriching the soil and supporting plant growth.
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Nitrogen fixation in leguminous plants is dominated by a variety of endosymbiotic bacteria.
Academic text (1997) -
Therefore, this source of nitrogen fixation is greatly reduced.
Academic text (1990) -
Consequences of increased nitrogen fixation
Academic text (1994) -
The consequences of increased nitrogen fixation are manifold.
Academic text (1994) -
So this is just to make the simple point that here's this biological nitrogen fixation on a global scale.
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Anthropogenic nitrogen fixation has additional greenhouse impacts as well.
Academic text (1994) -
The rate of nitrogen fixation due to fertilizer production today is approximately 90 Tg(N)/yr.
Academic text (1994) -
Despite apparent phosphate limitation, active nitrogen fixation appeared to contribute significantly to the nitrogen budget of Lake Michigan.
Academic text (2008) -
Vance's focus is on improving biological nitrogen fixation for alfalfa and other legumes, as well as improving how plants acquire more phosphorus from the soil.
Academic text (2002)
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally interpretable — 'nitrogen' + 'fixation' suggests making nitrogen 'fixed' or attached — so there is a clear lexical link. However, the precise scientific sense (conversion of atmospheric N2 into forms plants can use) is technical and not derivable from the everyday meaning of 'fixation' by a B1 learner, making the expression only partially transparent.
Etymology
Nitrogen fixation creates a clear picture: tiny soil bacteria take nitrogen from the air and 'fix' it, meaning they attach or change it into a form plants can use. So, the term means the process that makes air nitrogen available to plants.
