Report of review team evaluation of biological nitrogen fixation limiting factors project

Special evaluation covers the period l977-8l and is based on document review, oral presentations by the program director and project manager, and assessment of sub-grantees' progress. The project has awarded 4l sub-grants for 3-year projects to 21 U.S. universities, including l6 projects promoting collaboration between the U.S. scientists and 23 LDC counterparts. Research topics include factors limiting quality of inoculant and inoculation success; soil factors which limit BNF; plant factors limiting nodulation and BNF; and Rhizobium/host interaction. Research has improved several BNF techniques, identified and improved substitute inoculant carriers and inoculation techniques, and identified breeding lines of legumes for increased BNF efficiency and tolerances to soil and environmental stresses. Research results have been documented in 21 journals, presented at 32 workshops, and been the subject of eight theses or dissertations. In addition, a workshop attended by 190 scientists was held at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture. It is recommended that: (1) the project be continued for 5 years; (2) the peer review process, periodic meetings of sub-grantees, and current administrative procedures be continued; (3) the planned 1982 workshop focus on identifying Rhizobium strains to enhance all major edible, forage, and tree legumes and which are suited to specific soils and climates; (4) sites visits be conducted to all sub-grantee institutions; (5) an A.I.D. project (Tropical Legume Inoculant Service) to apply research results be activated; (6) research be expanded on forage legumes, non-leguminous trees, and Azolla blue-green algae; (7) research on associative BNF by grasses be dropped from the project; and (8) efforts be made to train scientists from LDC's not presently represented in the project.