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[Michaelangelica]

Secret Ingredient For The Health Of Tropical Rainforests Discovered

ScienceDaily (Dec. 10, 2008) — A team of researchers led by Princeton University scientists has found for the first time that tropical rainforests, a vital part of the Earth's ecosystem, rely on the rare trace element molybdenum to capture the nitrogen fertilizer needed to support their wildly productive growth.
Most of the nitrogen that supports the rapid, lush growth of rainforests comes from tiny bacteria that can turn nitrogen in the air into fertilizer in the soil.
. . .
The biological enzyme, nitrogenase, which converts atmospheric nitrogen into soil fertilizer, feeds on molybdenum, the researchers found. "Nitrogenase without molybdenum is like a car engine without spark plugs,"
. . .
Molybdenum, a lustrous, silvery metal, is found in soil, rock and sea water and in a range of enzymes vital to human health. Traces of the element have been found in Japanese swords dating back to the 14th century. In modern times, its high strength, good electrical conductivity and anticorrosive properties have made molybdenum desirable as an element of rocket engines, radiation shields, light bulb filaments and circuit boards.

Secret Ingredient For The Health Of Tropical Rainforests Discovered

Any chemists out there who can translate this for me please?

Chemistry of the Nitrogenase Cofactor, FeMoco

The nitrogenase enzyme catalyses the reduction of N2 to NH3 accompanied by reduction of protons to H2. The enzyme consists of Fe and MoFe component proteins which can be purified separately. The MoFe protein contains two types of metal-sulfur clusters, the P-clusters, and the Fe, Mo cofactor known as FeMoco, believed to be the site of substrate binding.

Nitrogenase Cofactor Chemistry
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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...trogenase_.PNG

Looks like trace elements are sold for marine tanks so to replicate the many elements in sea water. I wonder what it would do in the garden? Perhaps seaweed or fish fertilisers do the same job (?)

Comments: coral-vite, essential elements and strontium molybendium should be in the daily / weekly dosing diet for most reef tanks.

https://www.petstore.com/ps_ViewItem...ld-KM3253.html
SEE