[Detection of nitrogen fixing activity in the phyllosphere of plants]

The activity of the nitrogen fixation in the phyllosphere of plants was assayed directly under the natural conditions. The highest rate of nitrogen fixation in the phylosphere was found in plants belonging to the family Compositae (4.34 . 10(-1) mg N2/m2/hr) while the lowest rate was observed in Acer platanoides (0.12 . 10(-1) mg N2/m2/hr), which constituted, on the average, from 0.1 to 10% of nitrogen assimilated by the plant in the course of its vital activity. The ratio between the nitrogen-fixing activity in the rhizosphere and phyllosphere of different cereals was almost the same (6 : 1).