水稻根尖细胞原生质膜表面电势对不同氮形态、 铝和pH的响应

相对于NO_3~--N,NH_4~+-N可以缓解植物铝毒害,但其机制还不清楚。铝在细胞膜表面的吸附量受细胞膜表面电势影响,直接影响到铝毒害。本文采用酶解法提取水稻根尖原生质体,研究了原生质膜表面zeta(ξ)电势对NH_4~+N、NO_3~--N、铝和pH的响应。结果表明,不管是否加铝,NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N本身并不显著影响原生质膜表面ξ电势,但是加铝和降低pH均可以去极化原生质膜表面ξ电势。水稻吸收NH_4~+-N一般降低生长介质pH,吸收NO_3~--N升高生长介质pH。因此,NH_4~+-N缓解水稻铝毒的原因,不是因为NH_4~+-N本身去极化了细胞膜表面电势,而是因为水稻吸收NH_4~+-N降低了介质pH,去极化了细胞膜表面电势,从而可能降低了铝在水稻根尖表面的吸附。     

科尔沁沙地固定沙丘土壤氮素空间分布特征研究

为了研究固定沙丘土壤N素空间分布特征,选择以栽植小叶锦鸡儿25年后的固定沙丘为研究对象,从迎风坡、顶坡和背风坡3个位置4个层次(0～5、5～10、10～20和20～40 cm)进行取样分析.研究结果表明:全N、NO_3~--N和NH_4~+-N含量均随着土层加深而呈现出减少的趋势,0～5 cm土层显著高于其他各层.表层土壤受凋落物的影响较大,从而相对于深层土壤来说积累了更多的N素.全N、NO_3~--N和NH_4~+-N含量在不同坡位间存在显著差异(p＜0.01):全N和NO_3~--N含量在迎风坡较高,而NH_4~+-N含量在背风坡较高.丛下全N、NO_3~--N和NH_4~+-N的含量显著高于丛间(p＜0.01).土壤电导率与全N、NO_3~--N、NH_4~+-N含量呈显著正相关,而pH与NO_3~--N、NH_4~+-N含量呈显著负相关,NO_3~--N、NH_4~+-N的富集降低了土壤pH值.小叶锦鸡儿的栽植对沙土改良具有重要意义.     

祁连山哈溪林区移植前后土壤氮对比研究

研究不同海拔梯度森林土壤氮的分布特征,对于合理利用森林资源、改善森林的生态功能都有重要意义。采用封顶埋管法,对祁连山东段哈溪林区不同海拔梯度和不同植被类型的土壤氮进行了研究。结果表明:(1)海拔2 650m青海云杉林土壤的初始TN,NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N含量均最低,海拔2 950 m青海云杉林土壤的初始TN,NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N含量均最高;各海拔梯度青海云杉林土壤经培养后,其TN,NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N含量均减小。(2)就不同植被类型而言,青海云杉林土壤TN,NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N含量均最高,草地和灌丛土壤TN,NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N含量较低,且二者差异不大。草地和灌丛土壤培养后TN和NH_4~+-N含量显著升高,NO_3~--N含量变化不大。(3)某一海拔青海云杉林土壤移植到其他海拔青海云杉林培养后,土壤TN,NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N含量变化不大;不同植被类型之间土壤相互移植培养后,土壤TN,NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N含量变化明显,不同植被类型对土壤氮的含量差异显著。     

两种典型温度下农村化粪池出水氮素在原地土壤中的迁移转化过程

为探究典型温度下(25℃和5℃)农村化粪池出水氮素在排污口原地土壤中的迁移转化过程,采集原地表层土壤及化粪池出水,构建室内模拟系统,分析化粪池出水经土壤渗滤前后氮素组成。结果表明,农村化粪池出水氮素以可溶性无机氮(DIN)为主,其中NH_4~+-N占70%以上;两种温度条件下化粪池出水DIN差异不显著(P0.05,n=12),NH_4~+-N、NO_2~--N、NO_3~--N浓度均具有极显著性差异(P0.01,n=12),25℃时硝化作用明显,导致出水NH_4~+-N低于5℃,NO_2~--N、NO_3~--N高于5℃;两种温度条件下原地土壤对化粪池出水DIN均有削减作用,其中NH_4~+-N削减量均占DIN削减量60%以上;25℃和5℃条件下,NH_4~+-N削减率分别为23.11%～47.37%和25.37%～43.47%;25℃时NH_4~+-N削减主要通过氨挥发、反硝化、厌氧氨氧化等作用完成,而5℃时NH_4~+-N削减主要通过土壤NH_4~+-N吸附作用完成;25℃时土壤对NO_3~--N还存在蓄积作用。研究表明,两种温度下化粪池出水NO-_2~--N和NO_3~--N在原地土壤中可发生反硝化或异化还原作用进而得到削减。     

哈尼梯田生态系统地表水不同形态氮含量时空分布特征

为探讨哈尼梯田生态系统天人合一的水分和营养元素的利用模式,揭示哈尼梯田生态系统氮素时空变化规律,明确土地利用对氮浓度的影响,为哈尼梯田的水环境保护和可持续发展提供科学依据。以元阳县全福庄小流域为研究对象,应用Kriging空间插值法分析了该系统地表水氮素的时空分布特征。结果表明:(1)除NO_3~--N浓度在夏季和冬季呈强变异外,其他N浓度在不同季节的变异系数均小于100%,表现为中等程度变异。(2)梯田中下部TN、NO_3~--N和NH_4~+-N浓度变幅都较大,分别为0.103~0.849,0.010~0.143,0.052~0.446mg/L,森林地表水中TN、NO_3~--N和NH_4~+-N浓度的变幅都相对较小,分别为0.108~0.471,0.003~0.102,0.058~0.164mg/L。(3)TN、NO_3~--N和NH_4~+-N各季节的块金系数均小于50%,各季节均有较强的空间自相关性。TN、NO_3~--N和NH_4~+-N各季节的变程均在1 000m以内,表明各指标各个季节分别在不同尺度范围内分布连续,存在空间自相关性。(4)通过Kriging插值法得知,不同季节TN、NO_3~--N,NH_4~+-N地表水浓度从整体上为村庄梯田河流森林的分布规律。     

春季解冻期3种温带森林土壤氮素动态变化

为了研究春季土壤冻融过程对氮素周转的影响,以长白山地区3种森林土壤为研究对象,利用原位培养连续取样法,测定和分析了不同形态氮素(NH_4~+-N、NO_3~--N和微生物量氮(MN))在春季解冻期间的含量动态变化。结果表明:土壤解冻过程中,3种森林土壤微生物量氮时间变化动态不同,且土壤微生物量氮表现出明显的垂直空间异质性,0~10 cm层土壤微生物量氮显著高于10~20 cm层。解冻期3种林型土壤NH_4~+-N时间变化动态表现一致,最大土壤NH_4~+-N释放量出现于解冻中后期。解冻期3种林型0~10 cm土壤NO_3~--N变化动态基本一致,但10~20 cm层土壤NO_3~--N含量的变化动态表现各异。解冻期间,除长白松林外,红松阔叶林与次生白桦林的0~10 cm层土壤NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N含量显著高于10~20 cm层土壤。土壤解冻中前期以NH_4~+-N生成为主,而解冻中后期,NO_3~--N生成量显著增加。     

杂交稻和常规稻生育后期对NO_3~——N和NH_4~+-N的营养效应

利用~(15)N示踪技术研究了杂交稻和常规稻生育后期对不同N源的营养效应。结果表明,杂交稻对抽穗前追施的NO_3~--N的利用率比常规稻高7.8％,回收率高13.2％:追施NH_4~+-N时,杂交稻的N肥利用率比常规稻高6.1％,回收率高14.5％肥源之间比较,收获期NH_4~+-N的利用率和回收率都高于NO_3~--N。肥料N在穗中的分配率,杂交稻比常规稻大15.7—20.2％,但NO_3~--N与NH_4~--N处理间无明显差异。试验结果还表明,抽穗前追施NO_3~--N比追施NH_4~--N能更明显地促进水稻对Ca~(2+),Mg~(2+)的吸收,刺激浮根的生长,增加稻谷产量,而且杂交稻的这些效应大于常规稻。     

氮肥基追比对小麦产量、土壤水氮分布及利用的影响

为解决区域土壤质地类型针对性氮肥施用问题,在轻壤土和黏壤土上分别设置不施氮肥,氮肥基追比3∶7,4∶6,5∶5,6∶4和7∶3处理,研究小麦产量、水氮利用效率以及土壤含水量、贮水量、NH_4~+-N、NO_3~--N动态变化规律。结果表明:轻壤质土壤氮肥基追比4∶6的处理小麦产量、水分利用效率、氮肥生产效率最高分别为8 265.3 kg/hm~2,27.6 kg/(hm~2·mm),34.4 kg/kg。黏壤质土壤氮肥基追比5∶5的处理小麦产量、水分利用效率、氮肥生产效率最高分别为8 363.2 kg/hm~2,28.3 kg/(hm~2·mm),34.8 kg/kg。小麦不同生育期各土层含水量垂直分布变化较大,轻壤质土壤含水量在9.3%～26.2%,而黏壤质为9.7%～27.6%;小麦全生育期内土壤贮水量呈先升高后降低趋势,黏壤质土壤贮水量高于轻壤质。氮素追施量越多土壤表层NH_4~+-N与NO_3~--N含量越高,且随土层加深土壤NH_4~+-N与NO_3~--N含量降低,受降水影响轻壤质土壤NH_4~+-N与NO_3~--N更易于向土层深处淋溶,成熟期黏壤质各土层的NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N含量均多于轻壤质。说明黏壤质土壤保水保氮肥能力强于轻壤质,氮肥基追比可以适当增加。     

黄土高原坡地苹果园土壤肥力及矿质氮累积分析

采用田间取样与室内分析相结合的方法,研究了黄土高原坡地苹果园肥力状况与矿质氮累积.结果表明,坡地苹果园土壤肥力低,氮、磷严重缺乏,钾相对丰富,土壤属于砂壤土,通气性强,保肥、保水性差.0-60 cm土层土壤有机质含量为9.24～28.12 g/kg,全氮为0.22～0.60 g/kg,速效磷为0.17～16.08mg/kg,速效钾为80.06～168.39 mg/kg;黄土高原坡地苹果园中NO_3~--N有深层累积分布,累积深度大于2 m,在180-200 cm层最高累积量达249.61 kg/hm2,而NH_4~+-N无深层累积.不同施肥处理对土壤剖面中的NH_4~+-N和NO3--N含量分布影响不同,对NH4+-N含量和分布影响不明显,但不同施肥方式对NO3--N含量分布影响显著.施加氮肥促进NO_3~--N深层累积,施加磷肥有助于降低土层中的NO_3~--N含量,缩小富集量的分布范围.     

牡蛎壳作生物滞留填料对城市地表径流污染物去除效果研究

选择磷吸附性能最强的牡蛎壳作为填料,在实验室构建3个生物滞留模拟装置(A柱:养殖牡蛎壳;B柱:海滩牡蛎壳;C柱:养殖牡蛎壳存在淹没区),采用道路径流模拟配水作为进水,研究牡蛎壳作为填料对青岛市城市径流常见污染物氮磷及COD的处理效果,并对各污染物去除机理进行探讨。结果表明:3种牡蛎壳填料的生物滞留设施对总磷的去除效果最好,在进水磷浓度为0.57～1.83 mg/L条件下,无淹没区装置平均去除率为96.12%,存在淹没区的装置平均去除率为91.02%。养殖牡蛎壳与海滩牡蛎壳对磷的去除效果并无明显差异,淹没区不利于磷的去除。在前期进水过程中(前5次进水)3个模拟装置氨氮(NH_4~+)的出水浓度高于进水浓度,延长落干期后,装置的NH_4~+去除率均上升,B柱NH_4~+平均去除率(58.83%)相对于A柱(48.77%)及C柱(53.06%)更高,有无淹没区对NH_4~+去除并无明显影响。由于填料中有机物的渗沥,首次进水出现严重COD淋出,在随后的进水过程中,COD去除效果迅速上升并稳定,3个模拟柱去除率分别为50.34%,23.47%和47.75%。由于反硝化作用受阻,对硝氮(NO_3~-)的去除效果不佳。整体看来,养殖牡蛎壳可以应用于青岛市生物滞留设施的填料,为加强滞留设施NO_3~-的去除效果,还需要采用强化脱氮措施。     

铵硝比和磷素营养对菠菜生长、氮素吸收和相关酶活性的影响

通过水培试验研究了不同铵硝比的氮素营养和磷素营养对菠菜生长、氮素吸收及硝酸还原酶活性（NRA）和谷氨酰胺合成酶活性（GSA）的影响。结果表明：在供磷水平相同时，菠菜的生物量随着铵硝比的降低而降低，但铵硝比为25：75与0：100两个处理之间没有显著差异；在铵硝比相同时，随着营养液中磷含量的增加，菠菜的生物量随之增加。菠菜茎叶中硝酸盐的含量随着铵硝比和磷水平的降低而升高。不同铵硝比处理，菠菜含氮量没有明显差异，随着磷水平的提高，菠菜植株含氮量有升高的趋势，但各处理之间差异不显著；受到生物量显著差异的影响，菠菜植株中氮素累积量随着铵硝比的降低和磷素水平的增加而增加。在铵硝混合营养条件下，缺磷会显著抑制菠菜对铵态氮和硝态氮的吸收，且磷索缺乏对菠菜吸收硝态氮的抑制作用要大于对铵态氮吸收的抑制作用。铵硝比相同时，随着营养液中磷索供应量的增加，菠菜茎叶中NRA显著增加；但是营养液中铵硝比较高时，会显著抑制菠菜茎叶中NRA，而铵硝比较低时，则有利于提高菠菜的NRA。缺磷会严重抑制GSA；在磷素水平相同时，随着营养液中铵比例的增加，菠菜茎叶中GSA显著增加。为此，在一些硝酸盐含量较高的土壤上栽培蔬菜时，可以采取增施适量磷肥的方法，以降低叶菜的硝酸盐含量。     

Optimization of Petroleum Refinery Wastewater Treatment by Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands Under Tropical Conditions: Plant Species Selection and Polishing by a Horizontal Flow Constructed Wetland

Typha latifolia-planted vertical subsurface flow constructed wetlands (VSSF CWs) can be used to treat petroleum refinery wastewater. This study evaluated if the removal efficiency of VSSF CWs can be improved by changing the plant species or coupling horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands (HSSF CWs) to the VSSF CW systems. The VSSF CWs had a removal efficiency of 76% for biological oxygen demand (BOD₅), 73% for chemical oxygen demand (COD), 70% for ammonium-N (NH₄⁺-N), 68% for nitrate-N (NO₃^?-N), 49% for phosphate (PO₄^3?-P), 68% for total suspended solids (TSS), and 89% for turbidity. The HSSF CWs planted with T. latifolia further reduced the contaminant load of the VSSF CW-treated effluent, giving an additional removal efficiency of 74, 65, 43, 65, 58, 50, and 75% for, respectively, BOD₅, COD, NH₄⁺-N, NO₃^?-N, PO₄^3?-P, TSS, and turbidity. The combined hybrid CW showed, therefore, an improved effluent quality with overall removal efficiencies of, respectively, 94% for BOD₅, 88% for COD, 84% for NH₄⁺-N, 89% for NO₃^?-N, 78% for PO₄^3?-P, 85% for TSS, and 97% for turbidity. T. latifolia strived well in the VSSF and HSSF CWs, which may have contributed to the high NH₄ ⁺-N, NO₃^?-N, and PO₄^3?-P removal efficiencies. T. latifolia-planted VSSF CWs showed a higher contaminant removal efficiency compared to the unplanted VSSF CW. T. latifolia is thus a suitable plant species for treatment of secondary refinery wastewater. Also a T. latifolia-planted hybrid CW is a viable alternative for the treatment of secondary refinery wastewater under the prevailing climatic conditions in Nigeria.     

Long-Term Effects of Tourmaline on Nitrogen Removal from Wastewater and Bacterial Community Shift in Activated Sludge at Low Temperatures

In this study, the long-term effects of ultrafine tourmaline particles (UTPs) on the removal of nitrogen in wastewater, activated sludge viability and microbial population dynamics at low temperatures were investigated. Although there was no significant effect on the effluent concentrations of nitrogen after long-term exposure to 1 g/L UTPs at low temperatures, the oxidation rate of NH₄⁺-N and the accumulation rate of NO₂^?-N increased and the formation rate of NO₃^?-N decreased during the aerobic phase of sequencing batch reactors. However, long-term exposure to 1 g/L UTPs did not significantly affect the microbial community richness and the community diversity of activated sludge at low temperatures. The mechanism of tourmaline was studied by assessing the dominant functional species involved in biological nitrogen removal from wastewater. It was found that 1 g/L UTPs increased the removal rate of nitrogen by reducing the relative abundance of nitrite oxidizing bacteria and increasing the relative abundance of ammonia oxidizing bacteria after long-term operation at low temperatures.     

沈阳地区河岸植被缓冲带对氮、磷的削减效果研究

为充分了解河岸植被缓冲带对地表径流污染物的去除效果, 本研究选取辽宁省沈阳市两条典型河流——浑河与蒲河为对象, 研究其滨水不同河岸植被缓冲带对地表径流氮、磷污染物的削减效果。结果表明: 在6 种河岸植被带中, 人工林草地对氮的削减效果最好, 对总氮、硝态氮和铵态氮的平均削减率分别为47%、36%和31%; 人工林地对磷的削减效果较好, 平均削减率为74%; 而人工林地对氮以及人工草地对磷的削减效果较差。随长度增加, 河岸植被缓冲带对地表径流污染物的削减效果基本呈增强趋势。以上研究结果说明不同河岸植被缓冲带对地表径流中氮、磷的削减各有优点。在对遭受污染的河流进行生态修复时, 应考虑环境污染特点和地表特征, 以充分发挥河岸植被缓冲带对污染物的削减优势。     

The significance of plant energy status for the uptake and incorporation of NH4-nitrogen by young rice plants

Uptake and assimilation of inorganic N in young rice plants has been studied with labelled N (N-15). Depletion of the plants' carbohydrate content, obtained by a preceding dark period, resulted in a drastic reduction of NH₄ ⁺-N uptake. Plants exposed to low light intensity showed diminishing NH₄ ⁺-N uptake rates as compared with plants exposed to full light intensity, the latter showing constant NH₄ ⁺-N uptake rates during the whole experimental period. The percentage of labelled insoluble N in total labelled N was not significantly affected by a preceding dark period, whereas the low light intensity resulted in a lower proportion of insoluble N in roots and shoots. The incorporation of labelled N into the insoluble fraction (proteins, nucleic acids) was higher in plants fed with NH₄ ⁺-N than in those fed with NO₃ ^-.

The uptake of NH₄ ⁺-N was not significantly affected by NO₃ ^-, whereas the NO₃- uptake rate was considerably reduced in the presence of NH^{4 +}-N. Low energy status of plants affected the nitrate uptake more than the uptake of NH₄ ⁺-N. The results show that uptake and assimilation of inorganic N depend much on the energetic status of plants. Nitrate uptake and assimilation is more sensitive to low energy conditions than NH₄ ⁺-N.     

Column Studies on Nitrate Removal from Potable Water

Biological processes can achieve nitrate removal from groundwater. The sulfur/limestone autotrophic denitrification by Thiobacillus denitrificans was evaluated with three laboratory-scale column reactors. The optimum sulfur/limestone ratio was determined to be 2:1 (mass/mass). Different hydraulic retention times were used during the column tests to examine nitrate removal efficiencies. Under an HRTs of 13 h, nitrate concentration of 60 mgNO₃ ^--N L^-1 was reduced to less than 5 mg NO₃ ^--N L^-1. On a higher HRT of 26 h the nitrate removal efficiency was close to 100% for all nitrate-nitrogen loading rates. Different initial nitrate-nitrogen concentrations (30, 60, and 90 mg NO₃ ^--N L^-1) were used in the study. Column tests showed that the nitrate-nitrogen loading rate in this study was between 50 to 100 g NO₃ ^--N m^-3 d^-1 to obtain a removal efficiency of 80–100%. It was found that approximately 6 mg SO₄ ^2- was produced for 1 mg NO₃ ^--N removed. Nitrite-nitrogen in all cases was less than the maximum allowable concentration of 1 mg NO₂ ^--N L^-1. Effluent pH was stable in the range of 7 to 8; the effluent dissolved oxygen was less than 0.15 mg L^-1 and the oxidation-reduction potential in all columns was in the range of –110 to –250 mV.     

Comparative Effect of Nitrogen Forms on Nitrogen Uptake and Cotton Growth Under Salinity Stress

The effects of nitrogen (N) forms (ammonium- or nitrate-N) on plant growth under salinity stress [150 mmol sodium chloride (NaCl)] were studied in hydroponically cultured cotton. Net fluxes of sodium (Na⁺), ammonium (NH₄⁺), and nitrate (NO₃^?) were also determined using the Non-Invasive Micro-Test Technology. Plant growth was impaired under salinity stress, but nitrate-fed plants were less sensitive to salinity than ammonium-fed plants due mainly to superior root growth by the nitrate-fed plants. The root length, root surface area, root volume, and root viability of seedlings treated with NO₃-N were greater than those treated with NH₄-N with or without salinity stress. Under salinity stress, the Na⁺ content of seedlings treated with NO₃-N was lower than that in seedlings treated with NH₄-N owing to higher root Na⁺ efflux. A lower net NO₃^? efflux was observed in roots of nitrate-fed plants relative to the net NH₄⁺ efflux from roots of ammonium-fed plants. This resulted in much more nitrogen accumulation in different tissues, especially in leaves, thereby enhancing photosynthesis in nitrate-fed plants under salinity stress. Nitrate-N is superior to ammonium-N based on nitrogen uptake and cotton growth under salinity stress.     

Nitrification and denitrification in an acidic soil of tea (Camellia sinensis L.) field estimated by δ15N values of leached nitrogen from the soil columns treated with ammonium nitrate in the presence or absence of a nitrification inhibitor and with slow-release fertilizers

Forty-two-day-old wheat (Triticum aestivum L. var. Asakazekomugi) plants were treated with complete, K-free (—K), Ca-limited (—Ca), and Mg-free (—Mg) nutrient solutions for 10 days using 2 mM NH₄NO₃ as the nitrogen source, which was replaced with 4 mM ¹⁵ NH₄C1 or Na¹⁵NO₃ for the subsequent 2 days to investigate the absorption, translocation, and assimilation of inorganic nitrogen in relation to the mineral supply. In another experiment plants were grown on NO₃ ^?, NH₄ ⁺, NH₄N0₃, and K-free and Ca-limited NH₄N0₃ nutrient solutions for 10 days, and then in the latter three treatments the nitrogen source was replaced with NO₃ ^? and half of the —K plants received K for 6 days to examine the changes in the nitrate reductase activity (NRA).

Wheat plants absorbed NH₄ ^?N and NO₃-N at a similar rate. Influence of K on the absorption of N0₃-N was stronger than that on the absorption of NH₄-N in wheat plants. The supply of K to the —K plants increased the absorption of NO₃-N, while the absorption of NH₄-N still remained at a lower rate in spite of the addition of K. A limited supply of Ca and lack of Mg in nutrient media slightly affected the absorption of NH₄-N. The influence of K was stronger on the translocation of nitrogen from roots to shoots, while Ca and Mg had little effect. When K was supplied again to the —K plants the translocation of NO₃,-N was more accelerated than that of NH₄-N. Incorporation of NH₄-N into protein was higher than that of NO₃-N in all the tissues; root, stem, and leaf. Assimilation of NH₄-N and NO₃-N decreased by the —K and —Mg treatments.

Leaf NRA of wheat plants decreased in the —K and —Ca plants. Higher leaf NRA was found when K was given again to the —K plants than when the plants were continuously grown in K-free media. Replacement of NO₃ ^? with NH₄ ⁺ as the nitrogen source caused a decline of leaf NRA, while the supply of both NH₄ ^?N and NO₃-N slightly affected the leaf NRA.     

Evaluation of 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate as a nitrification inhibitor in a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Citrus</Emphasis>-cultivated soil

 The objectives of this work were to evaluate the inhibitory action on nitrification of 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) added to ammonium sulphate nitrate [(NH₄)₂SO₄ plus NH₄NO₃; ASN] in a Citrus-cultivated soil, and to study its effect on N uptake. In a greenhouse experiment, 2 g N as ASN either with or without 0.015 g DMPP (1% DMPP relative to NH₄ ⁺-N) was applied 6 times at 20-day intervals to plants grown in 14-l pots filled with soil. Addition of DMPP to ASN resulted in higher levels of NH₄ ⁺-N and lower levels of NO₃ ^–-N in the soil during the whole experimental period. The NO₃ ^–-N concentration in drainage water was lower in the ASN plus DMPP (ASN+DMPP)-treated pots. Also, DMPP supplementation resulted in greater uptake of the fertilizer-N by citrus plants. In another experiment, 100 g N as ASN, either with or without 0.75 g DMPP (1% DMPP relative to NH₄ ⁺-N) was applied to 6-year-old citrus plants grown individually outdoors in containers. Concentrations of NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ^–-N at different soil depths and N distribution in the soil profile after consecutive flood irrigations were monitored. In the ASN-amended soil, nitrification was faster, whereas the addition of the inhibitor led to the maintenance of relatively high levels of NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ^–-N in soil for longer than when ASN was added alone. At the end of the experiment (120 days) 68.5% and 53.1% of the applied N was leached below 0.60 m in the ASN and ASN+DMPP treatments, respectively. Also, leaf N levels were higher in plants fertilized with ASN+DMPP. Collectively, these results indicate that the DMPP nitrification inhibitor improved N fertilizer efficiency and reduced NO₃ ^– leaching losses by retaining the applied N in the ammoniacal form. Received: 31 May 1999