It isn't so much atmospheric, as agricultural. Nitrogen is an essential nutrient in the soil, but most plants (especially cultivated ones) have no means to access atmospheric nitrogen (which makes up 80% of our air). Most nitrogen used agriculturally is manufactured synthetically via petroleum byproducts to make chemical fertilizer. Some organic farmers will use clover planted inbetween the rows of their cash crop to keep the soil in good shape. The legumes have a symbiotic relationship with certain bacteria that live in nodules on their roots. Without the various nitrogen fixing plants, all soil would be exhausted eventually. >Aaron Felker >Ahhhhh! A very supportive use those beans! I stand corrected on their >importance to us. They have an atmospheric job! I knew there had to be a >benefit for us somewhere. Thanks for the superb lesson. Now if we could >only fix the gas given to humans we could all breathe a lot easier. Oliva > > > > _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com