Numerous previous studies have highlighted the often high
sensitivity of agronomically-important legumes, including soybean,
clover, beans, and pulses to ground level ozone (e.g. Hayes
et al., 2007; Mills et al., 2007). However, the impacts of ozone on
the N-fixing capacity of legumes remain surprisingly neglected,
especially at current and near-future concentrations of ozone. In
this study, we synthesise the existing literature to assess the potential
for impacts of ozone on N fixation under realistic ozone
concentrations and summarise current knowledge on the potential
mechanisms involved. Using experimentally-derived response
functions, we also explore the effects of ozone that may occur on an
agroecosystem scale by predicting reductions in clover (Trifolium
spp.) root nodule biomass in United Kingdom (UK) pasture based
on ozone concentration data for a “high” (2006) and “average”
ozone year (2008).