Interaction of 15N-labelled ammonium nitrate,urea and ammonium sulphate with soil N during growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under field conditions

The effects of ¹⁵N-labelled ammonium nitrate, urea and ammonium sulphate on yield and uptake of labelled and unlabelled N by wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Mexi-Pak-65) were studied in a field experiment. The dry matter and N yields were significantly increased with fertilizer N application compared to those from unfertilized soil. The wheat crop used 64.0–74.8%, 61.5–64.7% and 61.7–63.4% of the N from ammonium nitrate, urea and ammonium sulphate, respectively. The fertilizer N uptake showed that ammonium nitrate was a more available source of N for wheat than urea and ammonium sulphate. The effective use of fertilizer N (ratio of fertilizer N in grain to fertilizer N in whole plant) was statistically similar for the three N fertilizers. The application of fertilizer N increased the uptake of unlabelled soil N by wheat, a result attributed to a positive added N interaction, which varied with the method of application of fertilizer N. Ammonium nitrate, urea and ammonium sulphate gave 59.3%, 42.8% and 26.3% more added N interaction, respectively, when applied by the broadcast/worked-in method than with band placement. A highly significant correlation between soil N and grain yield, dry matter and added N interaction showed that soil N was more important than fertilizer N in wheat production. A values were not significantly correlated with added N interaction (r=0.719). The observed added N interaction may have been the result of pool substitution, whereby added labelled fertilizer N stood proxy for unlabelled soil N.     

Effects of polyolefin‐coated fertilizer on nutritional quality of spinach plants

Pot experiments were conducted in order to evaluate the effects of four different urea or ammonium containing polyolefin‐coated fertilizers (POCFs) on the nutritional quality of spinach (Spinacia olèracea L.) and to investigate the mechanisms of these effects in comparison with conventional, rapidly available fertilizer. Compared to the conventional fertilization method yield was decreased in all the four POCF treatments due to less available fertilizer nitrogen (N) and/or realized ammonium nutrition. However, application of POCFs decreased oxalate and nitrate contents and increased ascorbate concent in spinach. Decreased oxalate and nitrate contents were attributed to lower nitrate availability in the soil having caused by the controlled‐released characteristic of POCFs and/or ammonium nutrition. Increased ascorbate content was due to both decreased oxalate and decreased nitrogen contents of the spinach plants. It was concluded that band applications of urea or ammonium containing POCFs improved the nutritional quality of spinach due to realized ammonium nutrition and/or less amount of available fertilizer N.     

Comparison of chemical methods of assessing potentially available organic nitrogen in soil

Abstract

We recently developed two rapid and precise chemical methods of assessing potentially available organic N in soils. One method involves determination of the ammonia‐N produced by steam distillation of the soil sample with pH 11.2 phosphate‐borate buffer solution for 8 min. The other involves determination of the ammonium‐N produced by treatment of the soil sample with 2M KCl solution at 100°C for 4 hours. Studies using 33 Brazilian soils showed that the results obtained by these methods were highly correlated with those obtained by anaerobic and aerobic incubation methods of assessing potentially available organic N in soil.

The two methods were further evaluated by applying them to 30 Iowa soils and by comparing their results and those obtained by other chemical methods with the results of the incubation methods considered to be the best laboratory methods currently available for assessment of potentially available organic N in soil. The chemical methods used included the acid KMnO₄ method, the alkaline KMnO₄ method, the CaCl₂‐autoclave method, and the NaHCO₃ UV method. The incubation methods used involved determination of the ammonium‐N produced by incubation of the soil sample under anaerobic conditions for 1 week or determination of the (ammonium + nitrate + nitrite)‐N produced by incubation of the sample under aerobic conditions for 2 and 12 weeks. The data obtained showed that the results of the two chemical methods evaluated were highly correlated with those obtained by the incubation techniques used for comparison and that the correlations observed with these two methods were higher than those observed with the previously proposed chemical methods. It is concluded that these two rapid and simple methods are the best chemical methods thus far developed for laboratory assessment of potentially available organic N in soil.     

Atmospheric Ionic Deposition in Tropical Sites of Central Sulawesi Determined by Ion Exchange Resin Collectors and Bulk Water Collector

In the light of global change, the necessity to monitor atmospheric depositions that have relevant effects on ecosystems is ever increasing particularly for tropical sites. For this study, atmospheric ionic depositions were measured on tropical Central Sulawesi at remote sites with both a conventional bulk water collector system (BWS collector) and with a passive ion exchange resin collector system (IER collector). The principle of IER collector to fix all ionic depositions, i.e. anions and cations, has certain advantages referring to (1) post-deposition transformation processes, (2) low ionic concentrations and (3) low rainfall and associated particulate inputs, e.g. dust or sand. The ionic concentrations to be measured for BWS collectors may easily fall below detection limits under low deposition conditions which are common for tropical sites of low land use intensity. Additionally, BWS collections are not as independent from the amount of rain fallen as are IER collections. For this study, the significant differences between both collectors found for nearly all measured elements were partly correlated to the rainfall pattern, i.e. for calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium. However, the significant differences were, in most cases, not highly relevant. More relevant differences between the systems were found for aluminium and nitrate (434-484?%). Almost five times higher values for nitrate clarified the advantage of the IER system particularly for low deposition rate which is one particularity of atmospheric ionic deposition in tropical sites of extensive land use. The monthly resolution of the IER data offers new insights into the temporal distribution of annual ionic depositions. Here, it did not follow the tropical rain pattern of a drier season within generally wet conditions.     

Effects of 15N-labelled ammonium nitrate and urea on soil nitrogen during growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under field conditions

We studied the effects of ¹⁵N-labelled ammonium nitrate and urea on the yield and uptake of labelled and unlabelled N by wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Mexi-Pak-65) in a field experiment. The dry matter and N yields were significantly increased with fertilizer N application compared to those from unfertilized soil. The wheat crop used 33.6–51.5 and 30.5–40.9% of the N from ammonium nitrate and urea, respectively. Splitting the fertilizer N application had a significant effect on the uptake of fertilizer N by the wheat. The fertilizer N uptake showed that ammonium nitrate was a more available source of N for wheat than urea. The effective use of fertilizer N (ratio of fertilizer N in grain to fertilizer N in whole plant) was statistically similar for the two N fertilizers. The application of fertilizer N increased the uptake of unlabelled soil N by wheat, a result attributed to a positive added N interaction, which varied according to the fertilizer N split; six split applications gave the highest added N interaction compared to a single application or two split applications for both fertilizers. Ammonium nitrate gave 90.5, 33.5, and 48.5% more added N interaction than urea with one, two, and six split N applications. A values were not significantly correlated with the added N interaction (r=0.557). The observed added N interaction may have been the result of pool substitution, whereby added labelled fertilizer N replaced unlabelled soil N.     

Differences in nitrogen‐assimilating enzyme activity in halophyte species are habitat‐related

The chemical form and content of available nitrogen (N) in salt marsh substrates varies considerably. On the western coast of Ireland, habitats designated as Ombrogenic Atlantic salt marshes were formed on ombrogenic peat substrate. The peat substrate in these systems has three times more ammonium than substrate from adjacent salt marsh habitats on sand and mud substrate. This study examined the extent to which the high concentration of ammonium in peat salt marsh substrate influences the N‐ assimilating enzyme activity of halophytes and the extent to which N metabolism differs between species. Specifically, this work investigated whether plants from peat salt marshes are more likely to assimilate ammonium than plants from non‐peat substrates. Four halophyte plant species—Armeria maritima, Aster tripolium, Plantago maritime, and Triglochin maritime—were sampled from various saltmarsh habitats including three sites on peat substrate and three on non‐peat substrate, comprising sand, mud and sand/mud. The activities of N‐metabolising enzymes—glutamine synthetase (GS), glutamate synthase, glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), and nitrate reductase (NR)—were quantified in shoot and root parts. Root GS activity in Armeria maritima and shoot GS activity in Triglochin maritima were positively correlated with increasing soil ammonium levels. Root NR activity in Aster tripolium and shoot NR activity in Plantago maritima were significantly higher in plants grown on non‐peat substrates than peat substrates. The shoot : root GS activity ratio in Triglochin maritima on peat substrate was more than double the ratio on non‐peat substrates. It is concluded that all species tested displayed differences in N‐metabolising activities depending on the chemical form and/or concentration of N in the substrate, while three out of the four species were capable of taking advantage of the high levels of ammonium in peat substrates.     

Preparation of Ammonium‐15N and Nitrate‐15N Samples by Microdiffusion for Isotope Ratio Analysis by Optical Emission Spectrometry

Abstract

A diffusion method for the preparation and measurement of ¹⁵N abundance of ammonium and nitrate in KCl extracts of soil using optical emission spectrometry (OES) was compared with conventional continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). There were highly significant correlations between the values obtained by using OES and IRMS. The 99% confidence interval of the intercept included the value 0 and the 99% confidence interval of the slope included the value 1 for both nitrate and ammonium measurements, suggesting that the results from the two methods did not differ significantly. In another experiment, ¹⁵N values of nitrate and ammonium from soil extracts prepared by using the standard distillation procedures for OES were compared against the microdiffusion preparation method. Again, there was a highly significant correlation between the values: the 95% confidence interval of the intercept included the value 0, and the 95% confidence interval of the slope included the value 1, again suggesting that the two methods did not differ significantly. It was concluded that the diffusion technique is an appropriate and simple method of sample preparation for inorganic N analysis of KCl extracts using OES.     

Effect of ammonium chloride,ammonium sulphate,and sodium nitrate on take‐all and grain yield of wheat grown on soils in South‐western Australia

Five field experiments are described which measured the effect of three sources of nitrogen (N) fertilizer, applied at 45 kg N/ha, on the incidence of take‐all and grain yield of wheat. The N fertilizers were ammonium sulphate, ammonium chloride, and sodium nitrate. Compared with the Nil N treatment, ammonium‐nitrogen fertilizer, either as ammonium sulphate (ASdr) or ammonium chloride (ACdr) drilled with the seed, lowered the severity of take‐all. Sodium nitrate topdressed (SNtd) to the soil surface reduced the severity of take‐all in three of five experiments, while ammonium sulphate topdressed (Astd) reduced the severity in four of the five experiments. Ammonium sulphate and ammonium chloride drilled with the seed were equally effective in reducing the severity of take‐all in three of the five experiments. However, ACdr was more effective than ASdr in reducing the severity of take‐all in one experiment whereas ASdr was more effective than ACdr in another experiment. In these two experiments (1 and 5), the effects of the reduction in take‐all severity between the ASdr and ACdr treatments did not affect grain yield. The results suggest that grain yield losses from take‐all are most severe where wheat plants are deficient in N. Chloride containing fertilizers are unlikely to control take‐all disease of wheat on soils of southwestern Australia.     

Cotton Response to Source and Timing of Nitrogen Fertilization on a Sandy Coastal Plain Soil

Abstract

A three‐year field study was conducted to evaluate cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) response to the source and timing of nitrogen (N) on an irrigated coastal plain soil (Lucy loamy sand; Arenic Kandiudults) in south Alabama. Cotton acreage in this region has increased in the past ten years and there was a need for current data describing cotton response to N fertilization. Treatments included N sources, timing of N application (ammonium nitrate), split applications of N (ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate), and a no‐N check. Nitrogen sources applied preplant included: (i) ammonium nitrate (34‐0‐0); (ii) ammonium sulfate (21‐0‐0‐24.2); (iii) urea (46‐0‐0); (iv) urea–ammonium nitrate solution (UAN; 32‐0‐0); (v) UAN + ammonium thiosulfate (28‐0‐0‐5). Non‐sulfur sources were applied with and without additional sulfur (S). Times of application were preplant, first true leaf, first square, and first bloom. Two treatments received split applications of N as a 50:50 mixture of ammonium sulfate with urea or ammonium nitrate. Supplemental applications of potassium (K) were evaluated by applying ammonium sulfate in combination with 56 kg K/ha. Yield data showed some minor differences among sources, but overall the results of this three‐year study show that there were no superior N sources. For ammonium nitrate, preplant applications of N were sufficient in two out of three years. Split applications of ammonium nitrate did not improve yields as compared to preplant N. Applying ammonium sulfate with supplemental K or as a 50:50 mixture with ammonium nitrate or urea did not improve yields as compared to ammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate applied alone. Lint quality was not affected by N fertility treatments.     

Glycine,nitrate, and ammonium uptake by classic and modern wheat varieties in a short-term microcosm study

Plants take up nitrogen principally in the form of nitrate and ammonium; however, evidence is growing that they can also use organic N in the form of amino acids. Selecting varieties that better use organic N could be important in maximizing productivity in organic and low-input systems because these varieties may access a wider pool of available nutrients. We tested amino acid-N uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings over 24 h over a range of soil glycine concentrations. Wheat was grown in 5 ml pipette tips for 10 days prior to labeling with ¹⁴C-labeled glycine. In a second experiment, uptake of amino acid-N relative to nitrate and ammonium was tested in three pre-1940 wheat varieties (Arco, Idaed, and Red Fife), three modern varieties (Alpowa, Madsen, and Zak), and one perennial wheat variety (unreleased). Glycine-N was detected in all shoots (with the exception of the lowest soil concentration) and increased with increasing soil concentration. There were few differences in uptake between individual varieties tested but seedlings of modern varieties were more efficient at capturing organic N than classic varieties. Glycine-N constituted between 3.9% and 8.1% of total N uptake over 24 h and constituted a significantly greater proportion of total N in perennial wheat than annual wheat varieties. These results show that there may be sufficient varietal differences in organic N uptake in wheat to warrant selection for this trait in breeding programs targeted to improving N use efficiency.     

Urea as an organic nitrogen source for hydroponically grown tomatoes in comparison with inorganic nitrogen sources

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., cv. Momotaro) plants were grown in nutrient solutions with several levels of urea, nitrate, and ammonium alone or in combination to evaluate the role of urea as an organic nitrogen source compared with that of nitrate and/or ammonium as inorganic nitrogen sources. Nitrogen deficiency and excess symptoms were detected in the urea-fed plants at lower (28 mg N L^-1) and higher nitrogen levels (336, 504 mg N L^-1), respectively. The effect of urea on plant growth and leaf elemental composition was intermediate between that of nitrate and ammonium. Solution pH under urea nutrition slightly increased or remained stable. When plants were cultured with the solution containing 168 mg N L^-1, the total dry weight of the plants which received urea+nitrate was significantly higher than that of the plant which received urea and was almost equal to that of the plants which received nitrate or nitrate+ammonium. Both absorption and utilization of nitrogen in the plants fed with urea decreased compared with those of the plants fed with nitrate or ammonium. The insufficient absorption and utilization of nitrogen were estimated to be the main factors associated with the growth reduction of tomato plants under urea nutrition. However, combined application of urea and nitrate is useful for adequate plant growth without a reduction of the cation absorption in tomato while maintaining a stable solution pH.     

NBPT与DMPP不同剂量组合对尿素氮转化的影响

采用室内模拟试验的方法,探讨了脲酶抑制剂N-丁基硫代磷酰三胺(NBPT)和硝化抑制剂3,4-二甲基吡唑磷酸盐(DMPP)的不同浓度组合对尿素氮转化的影响。结果表明,NBPT与DMPP不同浓度组合均不同程度的延缓了尿素的水解,使尿素N水解产物更加以NH4+-N形态保持在土壤中;延缓了硝化作用进程并减少了硝酸盐在土壤累积,在此基础上增加了土壤有效态N含量。综合不同浓度组合对尿素水解的抑制、土壤NH4+-N和NO3--N含量变化、硝化作用抑制效果、土壤有效态N水平等指标并结合成本考虑,NBPT和DMPP分别为0.1%和0.5%施氮量时为最适宜的组合。     

Effect of plant growth-promoting Bacillus sp. on color and clipping yield of three turfgrass species

A two-year irrigated field study was conducted to determine the effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR; Bacillus subtilis OSU-142 and Bacillus megaterium M3) as biofertilizer, and in combination with a chemical nitrogen (N) fertilizer, on turf color and clipping yield, and interaction of biofertilizer and chemical N fertilizers in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L. Schreb.), and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.). The three turf species were tested separately in split-plot design experiments with three replications. Three fertilizer sources (ammonium nitrate only, ammonium nitrate + B. megaterium M3, and ammonium nitrate + B. subtilis OSU-142) were the main plots. N applications with monthly applications of 0.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 g N/m² were the subplots. Color ratings and clipping yields increased with increasing chemical N fertilizers in all species. Both Bacillus sp. significantly increased color ratings and clipping yields in perennial ryegrass and tall fescue. However, there were no significant differences among the three fertilizer sources in color and clipping yield of Kentucky bluegrass. The experiments showed that there is a small but significant benefit from applying biofertilizers for turf color, and that N fertilization may be reduced in some turf species when biofertilization are made for this purpose.     

Soil mineral nitrogen transformations during succession in the piedmont of north carolina

Variations in patterns of ammonification and nitrification among and within four sites at each of three stages of old field succession (old field to pine to deciduous hardwoods) were evaluated by laboratory incubations in May and August 1979. Each experiment included mineral nutrient-minus-nitrogen (?N) and supplemental ammonium (+ N) treatments to examine limitations on nitrification.In general, nitrate production was highest and ammonium accumulation was lowest in old field soils compared to pine or hardwood soils. However, there was considerable overlap in response, and variation due to locality within site and site within successional stage exceeded that attributable to successional stage alone.Ammonium addition enhanced nitrification in soil from all old field sites, only one pine forest site and no hardwood site. Addition of nutrients less nitrogen (?N) had no effect in any soil. Correlations between other soil variables and changes in ammonium and nitrate during incubation varied among successional stage and in some instances between dates.     

Nitrogen availability of various biogas residues applied to ryegrass

Biogas plants in Germany are producing an increasing amount of biogas residues to be recycled via agricultural crop production. To test whether the wide range of various substrates used in the anaerobic digestion can affect the chemical composition and nutrient availability, seven biogas residues derived from different substrates were investigated with respect to their N supply to ryegrass. Both the short‐term and the long‐term N availability were studied in a 309‐d pot experiment lasting for five successive growth cycles each starting with a fertilizer application. The organic fertilizers were applied based on an equal amount of ammonium‐N (300 mg N per pot) and compared to mineral N from ammonium nitrate of equal dosage. Biogas residues varied greatly in their chemical composition (ammonium‐N 0.20% to 0.51%, N_total 0.36% to 0.75%, and C_org 1.85% to 4.75% in fresh matter). After the first growth cycle, the N availability of the biogas residues applied based on ammonium‐N was at least equal to that from ammonium nitrate. Differences in N offtake after one fertilizer application were negatively correlated to the C_org : N_org ratio of the organic fertilizers. After five successive fertilizer applications, the N utilization of most of the organic fertilizers was increased compared to that of the mineral fertilizer. It is concluded that biogas residues provide plant‐available N at least corresponding to their ammonium content and that the accumulation of organic N in soil through repeated application of biogas residues contributes to N release.     

Application of urease inhibitor improves protein composition and bread‐baking quality of urea fertilized winter wheat

Background: Nitrogen losses is an economic problem for wheat production and a high risk to the environment. Therefore, improved N fertilizer management is a key to increasing the N efficiency and minimizing N losses. To increase N efficiency, enhanced fertilizers such as urea combined with urease inhibitor can be used. Aims: The aim of present study was to evaluate the effects of different N forms on grain storage protein subunits in winter wheat and to examine whether the observed changes correlate with parameters of baking quality. Methods: The investigation was performed over two consecutive years at two locations in Germany. Protein subunits were analyzed by SDS‐PAGE. Results: Protein concentrations were similarly increased after fertilization with ammonium nitrate and urea + urease inhibitor. Analysis of the individual storage protein fractions indicated that both fertilizers specifically enhanced ω‐gliadins and HMW glutenins, but the effect was more pronounced in the ammonium nitrate treatment. Application of urea + urease inhibitor had greater influence on the protein composition and resulted in higher specific baking volume as well as the best fresh keeping ability, in comparison with urea treatment. Conclusion: Considering that the urea + urease inhibitor treatment resulted in almost comparable improvements of NUE and baking quality, with the additional benefit of reduced N losses in combination with easy handling, urea + urease inhibitor can be recommended as a viable alternative to both urea alone and ammonium nitrate treatments. This opens up an opportunity for the reduction of N loss in wheat production when use of urea is preferred.     

The Effect of Chronic High Groundwater Nitrate Loading on Riparian Forest Growth and Plant–Soil Processes

The effect of chronic high groundwater nitrate loading on riparian forests is poorly understood. The growth patterns of northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) and related plant–soil processes were examined at four riparian sites in southern Ontario, Canada which have similar vegetation, soils, and hydrology but have differed in adjacent land use for >60 years. Fertilized cropland at two riparian sites produced groundwater-fed surface flows with high mean NO₃–N concentrations of 9 and 31 mg l⁻¹, whereas mean concentrations were <0.5 mg l⁻¹ at two control sites down slope from forest. Tree-ring analysis at the two nitrate-rich sites indicated a positive growth trend in 1980–2004 and an absence of a positive growth trend in the 1945–1970 period that preceded high rates of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer use on cropland. However, a significant increase in growth also occurred in 1980–2004 at the two control riparian sites suggesting that high groundwater nitrate inputs did not influence tree growth. Cedar foliar and litter N content did not differ significantly between the high nitrate and control sites. Litter decomposition rates measured by the litterbag technique at a nitrate-enriched and control site were similar. Litter from a high nitrate and a control site produced a similar rate of potential denitrification in lab incubations of riparian surface peat. This study indicates that prolonged nitrate inputs in groundwater did not increase nitrogen uptake and growth of white cedar or stimulate decomposition and denitrification as a result of changes in the quality of plant material. In the absence of anthropogenic nitrate inputs, riparian wetland soils are typically high in ammonium and low in nitrate, and as a consequence, white cedar may have a limited ability to utilize nitrate.     

Nutrient uptake by wheat seedlings that differ in response to mixed nitrogen nutrition 1

In hydroponics, cereal crop growth is usually enhanced when the nutrient media contains both nitrate and ammonium compared to either form separately. Identification of genotypic variation between two spring wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum cv. Len, and Triticum durum cv. Inbar) in their magnitude of growth response to mixed N permits a comparative evaluation of metabolic processes underlying enhanced growth from utilization of N mixtures. The objective of this study was to determine if the additional mixed N‐induced growth, and the difference in response between cultivars, is associated with the uptake or partitioning of N, P, or K during the seedling stage of development. Plants of Len and Inbar were grown hydroponicaily for 21 days in nutrient solutions containing N either as all nitrate or as a 50/50 mixture of nitrate and ammonium. The mean of three experiments showed that whole plant dry weight increased 19% for Len and 41 % for Inbar when the plants were supplied with the N mixture compared to only nitrate. With the N mixture, the increase in biomass was almost entirely due to enhanced shoot production, which was mainly the result of greater tiller formation. Both cultivars absorbed more N, P, and K when grown with mixed N, and the additional N and K uptake of appeared to be associated with the enhanced growth. This conclusion is based on the observation that Inbar absorbed proportionately more N and K, but less P, than Len when grown with mixed N nutrition. These data suggest that the increased dry matter production from the utilization of mixed N nutrition is not directly related to the additional absorption of P, but may be associated with enhanced N and K uptake.     

Mineral Nitrogen Associated Changes in Growth and Xylem-N Compounds in Amazonian Legume Tree

In nodulated young Inga edulis plants, nodule and plant growth, nitrogen (N) in xylem sap and tissues total contents of amino acid, ureide, and nitrate were determined in response to nutrition with nitrate, ammonium, or no mineral N. Additionally, the amount of soluble sugars in the different plant tissues was quantified. It was found that mineral N improved plant growth in height and diameter especially with ammonium. However, nitrate dramatically reduced nodule dry weight on a root dry weight basis and impaired N organic transport by xylem sap. Additionally, a higher amount of amino acids was observed in the roots and nodules of plants fed with mineral N but sugar levels remained constant. Although nitrate inhibited symbiosis, data support the idea that I. edulis is able to use both molecular and mineral nitrogen during the life cycle.