"Rusty Hinge 2" wrote in message
k...

Even so, plants cannot absorb this gaseous nitrogen through their leaves.

Peas, beans, lentils, clover etc can, I understand, and there is work
going on at the moment to genetically engineer the ability into other
types of crop in order to reduce the need for the energy-hungry
manufacture of artificial fertilisers.

Pulses fix free nitrogen (present in soil) through their roots, in
association with radicicola zoospores.

Mary