Effects of Cd on the fluxes of K+ and H+ in excised roots

As a result of Cd treatment, K concentrations decreased in Cd sensItive maize and kidney bean calli (Obata et al. 1994) and in intact roots of kidney bean plants (Obata et al. unpublished). Potassium may be extruded from the roots or the absorption of K may be depressed by the Cd treatment in these Cd sensitive plants. Obata et al. (1996) observed that Cd inhibited both the efflux of H⁺ and influx of K⁺ following K⁺ addition in intact roots of bean. Thus Cd may affect the activity of proteins essential to ion movement., i.e. ioncarriers, channels and ATPase embedded in the membranes and/or may affect the permeability of the lipids of the membrane.     

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.     

Priming effects of 15N-labelled ammonium nitrate on uptake of soil N by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under field conditions

Summary The uptake of labelled and unlabelled N by wheat was measured in a field experiment using ¹⁵N-labelled ammonium nitrate fertilizer. The dry matter yield and N yields were significantly increased with fertilizer N application compared to those from unfertilized soil. The uptake of applied N by wheat ranged between 25 and 34%. Fertilizer N application increased the uptake of unlabelled soil N which was attributed to a positive priming effect or added N interaction. The added N interaction observed by applying 20, 60, and 120 kg fertilizer N was 11.4, 19.1, and 27.9 kg, corresponding to 26, 44 and 64%, respectively of the N taken up from unfertilized soil. The A values did not alter with the increase in fertilizer N application. The observed added N interaction may have been the result of pool substitution whereby added labelled fertilizer N stood proxy for unlabelled soil N. A significant correlation coefficient (r=0.996^**) between the uptake of soil N and the dry matter yield showed that soil N was more important than fertilizer N in wheat production.     

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.     

铵、硝营养对水稻叶细胞膜H+-ATPase和质子泵活性的影响

用两相法分离铵态氮(NH4+-N)和硝态氮(NO3--N)培养的水稻苗期叶细胞膜,并测定了细胞膜H+-ATPase水解活性和质子泵活性,以期阐明铵、硝营养对水稻叶细胞膜H+-ATPase的影响。结果表明,叶细胞膜H+-ATPase活性最佳pH值均为6.2。 NO3--N培养的水稻叶细胞膜H+-ATPase的水解活性、Vmax和Km均显著高于NH4+-N培养的水稻叶;Western Blot分析结果看出,NO3--N培养的水稻叶细胞膜H+-ATPase酶浓度也高于NH4+-N培养的水稻叶,说明NO3--N培养的水稻叶中单位细胞膜上的H+-ATPase酶分子数量大于NH4+- N培养的水稻叶,这与细胞膜上H+-ATPase蛋白的表达量升高有关。此外,NO3--N培养的水稻叶质子泵初速度和膜囊体内外H+浓度梯度均高于NH4+- N培养。由于NO3-的跨膜运输是与细胞膜上H+-ATPase紧密联系的主动运输过程,NO3--N培养的水稻叶片细胞膜H+-ATPase活性和质子泵活性高可能与水稻叶细胞吸收大量NO3-有关。     

硝态氮促进水稻生长和氮素吸收的生理机制

Rice is being increasingly cultivated in intermittently irrigated regious and also in aerobic soil in which Nitrate (NO₃^-) plays important role in nutrition of plant. However, there is no information regarding the influence of nitrate on the overall growth and uptake of nitrogen (N) in rice plant. Solution culture experiments were carried out to study the effects of NO₃^- on the plant growth, uptake of N, and uptake kinetics of NH₄⁺ in four typical rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars (conveutioual indica, conventional japonica, hybrid indica, and hybrid japonica), and on plasma membrane potential in roots of two conventional rice cultivars (indica and japonica) at the seedling stage. The results obtained indicated that a ratio of 50/50 NH₄⁺-N/NO₃^--N increased the average biomass of rice shoots and roots by 20% when compared with that of 100/0 NH₄⁺-N/NO₃^--N. In case of the 50/50 ratio, as compared with the 100/0 ratio, total N accumulated in shoots and roots of rice increased on an average by 42% and 57%, respectively. Conventional indica responds to NO₃^- more than any other cultivars that were tested. The NO₃^- supply increased the maximum uptake rate (V_max) of NH₄⁺ by rice but did not show any effect on the apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (K_m) value, with the average value of V_max for NH₄⁺ among the four cultivars being increased by 31.5% in comparison with those in the absence of NO₃^-. This suggested that NO₃^- significantly increased the numbers of the ammonium transporters. However, the lack of effect on the K_m value also suggested that the presence of NO₃^- had no effect on the affinity of the transporters for NH₄⁺. The plasma membrane potential in the roots of conventional indica and japonica were greatly increased by the addition of NO₃^-, suggesting that NO₃^- could improve the uptake of N by roots of the rice plant. In conclusion, the mechanisms by which NO₃^- enhances the growth and N uptake of rice plant was found by the increased value of V_max of NH₄⁺ and increased plasma membrane potential. Thus promotion of nitrification in paddy soil is of great significance for improving the production of rice.     

Aluminum tolerance associated with enhancement of plasma membrane H+-ATPase in the root apex of soybean

Abstract

Seventeen soybean cultivars were screened to discern differences in aluminum (Al) sensitivity. The Sowon (Al-tolerant) and Poongsan (Al-sensitive) cultivars were selected for further study by simple growth measurement. Aluminum-induced root growth inhibition was significantly higher in the Poongsan cultivar than in the Sowon cultivar, although the differences depended on the Al concentration (0, 25, 50, 75 or 100?μmol?L^–1) and the amount of exposure (0, 3, 6, 12 or 24?h). Damage occurred preferentially in the root apex. High-sensitivity growth measurements using India ink implicated the central elongation zone located 2–3?mm from the root apex. The Al content was lower 0–5?mm from the root apices in the Sowon cultivar than in the apices of the Poongsan cultivar when exposed to 50?μmol?L^–1 Al for 12?h. Furthermore, the citric acid exudation rate was more than twofold higher in the Sowon cultivar. Protein production of plasma membrane (PM) H⁺-ATPase from the root apices (0–5?mm) was upregulated in the presence of Al for 24?h in both cultivars. This activity, however, decreased in both cultivars treated with Al and the Poongsan cultivar was more severely affected. We propose that Al-induced growth inhibition is correlated with changes in PM H⁺-ATPase activity, which is linked to the exudation of citric acid in the root apex.     

Methionine sulfoximine suppressed the stimulation of dark carbon fixation by ammonium nutrition in wheat roots

To evaluate the role of NH₄ ⁺ assimilates in dark carbon fixation in roots in providing carbon skeletons expended for NH₄ ⁺ assimilation, the rate of dark carbon fixation in roots was measured using NaH¹⁴CO₃. The ¹⁴C-metabolites were analyzed in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants grown in NH₄ ⁺ media for various periods of time with or without methionine sulfoximine (MSX) treatment. The dark carbon fixation rate in the roots of wheat plants that had been grown with NH₄ ⁺ for 1 d was approximately 6-fold higher than the rate in control roots. The stimulation of dark carbon fixation in NH₄ ⁺-grown plants, however, was not observed in MSX-treated roots. In the roots of NH₄ ⁺-grown plants, the concentration and ¹⁴C-Iabeling of acidic metabolites such as citrate and malate considerably decreased whereas those of basic metabolites, especially asparagine, increased noticeably. With MSX treatment, the incorporation of ¹⁴C into basic metabolites was negligible. In response to NH₄ ⁺, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) activity increased, and PEPC proteins accumulated in wheat roots. Neither activity nor amounts of PEPC in roots increased in the presence of MSX. These findings suggest that primary assimilation of NH₄ ⁺ in roots is essential for the stimulation of dark carbon fixation, which coincides with the increased activity of root PEPC, to sufficiently replenish carbon skeletons necessary for NH₄ ⁺ assimilation.     

Microbial immobilization of ammonium and nitrate in relation to ammonification and nitrification rates in organic and conventional cropping systems

Agricultural systems that receive high or low organic matter (OM) inputs would be expected to differ in soil nitrogen (N) transformation rates and fates of ammonium (NH₄⁺) and nitrate (NO₃⁻). To compare NH₄⁺ availability, competition between nitrifiers and heterotrophic microorganisms for NH₄⁺, and microbial NO₃⁻ assimilation in an organic vs. a conventional irrigated cropping system in the California Central Valley, chemical and biological soil assays, ¹⁵N isotope pool dilution and ¹⁵N tracer techniques were used. Potentially mineralizable N (PMN) and hot minus cold KCl-extracted NH₄⁺ as indicators of soil N supplying capacity were measured five times during the tomato growing season. At mid-season, rates of gross ammonification and gross nitrification after rewetting dry soil were measured in microcosms. Microbial immobilization of NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ was estimated based on the uptake of ¹⁵N and gross consumption rates. Gross ammonification, PMN, and hot minus cold KCl-extracted NH₄⁺ were approximately twice as high in the organically than the conventionally managed soil. Net estimated microbial NO₃⁻ assimilation rates were between 32 and 35% of gross nitrification rates in the conventional and between 37 and 46% in the organic system. In both soils, microbes assimilated more NO₃⁻ than NH₄⁺. Heterotrophic microbes assimilated less NH₄⁺ than NO₃⁻ probably because NH₄⁺ concentrations were low and competition by nitrifiers was apparently strong. The high OM input organic system released NH₄⁺ in a gradual manner and, compared to the low OM input conventional system, supported a more active microbial biomass with greater N demand that was met mainly by NO₃⁻ immobilization.     

Induction of high affinity nitrate and ammonium uptake systems in wheat

Abstract

The ability of 7 day old wheat seedlings to take up nitrate or ammonium from hydroponic solution was measured. Seedlings were grown under fully aerated hydroponic conditions. The growth solution consisted of either 0.5 mM CaSO₄ alone or in combination with high nitrate (5 mM NO₃ ^‐ ), high ammonium (2 mM NH₄ ⁺) or modified 1/10 Hoaglands solution with nitrate N only (14 mM) or ammonium N only (2 mM). After washing the roots for one hour in CaSO₄, nitrate or ammonium uptake was measured with an ion selective electrode. Plants grown in high nitrate were unable to take up nitrate from a 0.1 mM external solution. Those grown in CaSO₄ were able to take up nitrate at the same external concentration (flux = 10.2 +/‐ 3.0 μmol nitrate/g dry wtlbh). The same result was seen for plants grown in high ammonium vs those grown in CaSO₄ (flux = 21.0 +/‐ 10.0 μmol/g dry wtlbh). Similar results were obtained when modified Hoagland's solution was substituted for the high N solutions. These data indicate that wheat roots possess both high and low affinity nitrate and ammonium uptake systems. The data further indicate that, for a given ion, the high and low affinity systems do not operate simultaneously under high N conditions. The high affinity system is switched off in the range of 1 mM for both ionic forms of N. Developmental studies show that the expression of the high affinity trait is reversible and may be induced (repressed) by conditioning for 24 h in low (high) N media. Plants grown in high N solutions showed efflux of the ion under assay conditions. Neither ion interfered with the induction/repression of the high affinity trait for the other under the conditions used in this study.     

Site of nitrogen accumulation in tulip (Tulipa gesneriana L.) roots during winter

Abstract

Plants (60 species in 37 genera, 27 families) grown on granite weathered soils of temperate natural forest in central Japan were sampled and analyzed for Fe, Mn and Cu. Soil samples coIlceted from the site of plant stands were also analyzed. Results showed that considerable difference existed amons plant species with less variations amons plant samples of the same plant species. Similar responses were frequently found among plant species in the same genus and sometimes in the same family. Variations due to soU also occurred but to a lesser degree. Pe, Mn and Cu were generaIly low in coniferous trees. On the other hand Acantiropanax sciadophylloides accumulated higher amount of Mn in the leaves (4.6 × 10³ ppm, dry matter basis) which is about 180 times more than that of low content species. Other Mn accumulating species were found in Anacardiaceae and Aceraceae. Cryptomeria japonica was the lowest in Mn content (26 ppm). Mean concentration ratio for Mn was 113. Cu was found to be slightly rich in scattering species including Lastrea japonica, Magnolia salleifolia, Acer mono var. connivens and Callicarpa japonica. Mean concentration ratio for Cu was 17.     

Hyphal transport by a vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus of N applied to the soil as ammonium or nitrate

Summary Transport of N by hyphae of a vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus was studied under controlled experimental conditions. The N source was applied to the soil as ¹⁵NH _inf4 ^sup+ or ¹⁵NO _inf3 ^sup- . Cucumis sativus was grown for 25 days, either alone or in symbiosis with Glomus intraradices, in containers with a hyphal compartment separated from the root compartment by a fine nylon mesh. Mineral N was then applied to the hyphal compartment as ¹⁵NH _inf4 ^sup+ or ¹⁵NO _inf3 ^sup- at 5 cm distance from the root compartment. Soil samples were taken from the hyphal compartment at 1, 3 and 5 cm distance from the root compartment at 7 and 12 days after labelling, and the concentration of mineral N in the samples was measured from 2 M KCl extracts. Mycorrhizal colonization did not affect plant dry weight. The recovery of ¹⁵N in mycorrhizal plants was 38 or 40%, respectively, when ¹⁵NH _inf4 ^sup+ or ¹⁵NO _inf3 ^sup- was applied. The corresponding values for non-mycorrhizal plants were 7 and 16%. The higher ¹⁵N recovery observed in mycorrhizal plants than in non-mycorrhizal plants suggests that hyphal transport of N from the applied ¹⁵N sources towards the host plant had occurred. The concentration of mineral N in the soil of hyphal compartments was considerably less in mycorrhizal treatments than in controls, indicating that the hyphae were able to deplete the soil for mineral N.     

Dynamics of 15N-labeled ammonium sulfate in various inorganic and organic soil fractions of wetland rice soils

Summary The dynamics of basally applied ¹⁵N-labeled ammonium sulfate in inorganic and organic soil fractions of five wetland rice soils of the Philippines was studied in a greenhouse experiment. Soil and plant samples were collected and analyzed for ¹⁵N at various growth stages. Exchangeable NH₄ ⁺ depletion continued after 40 days after transplanting (DAT) and corresponded with increased nitrogen uptake by rice plants. Part of the applied fertilizer was fixed by 2:1 clay minerals, especially in Maligaya silty clay loam, which contained beidellite as the dominant clay mineral. After the initial fixation, nonexchangeable ¹⁵N was released from 20 DAT in Maligaya silty clay loam, but fixation delayed fertilizer N uptake from the soil. Part of the applied N was immobilized into the organic fraction. In Guadalupe clay and Maligaya silty clay loam, immobilization increased with time while the three other soils showed significant release of fertilizer N from the organic fraction during crop growth. Most of the immobilized fertilizer N was recovered in the nondistillable acid soluble (alpha-amino acid + hydrolyzable unknown-N) fraction at crop maturity. Between 61% and 66% of applied N was recovered from the plant in four soils while 52% of fertilizer N was recovered from the plant in Maligaya silty loam. Only 20% – 30% of the total N uptake at maturity was derived from fertilizer N. Nmin (mineral N) content of the soil before transplanting significantly correlated with N uptake. Twenty-two to 34% of applied N was unaccounted for possibly due to denitrification and ammonia volatilization.     

Fixed ammonium and potassium release from two soils

Abstract

Release of native and added K⁺ and NH⁺ ₄ from two soils was monitored during a 166 day incubation/leaching experiment. One soil (Brookston) represented a major soil series In Ontario whereas the other (Harriston) was suspected having a relatively large fixation capacity. Treatments were imposed involving addition of 50 μM g^‐1 soil of K⁺(KCl) or NH⁺ ₄ (NH₄Cl) only or one added after the other on successive days. The addition of either K⁺ or NH⁺ ₄ on day 2 tended to inhibit the release of the other added on day I. Also the addition of either K⁺ or NH⁺ ₄ on day 1 tended to inhibit the sorption or fixation of the other on day 2. The release rate of K⁺ during the 10 to 166 day period was almost constant and not affected by the addition of NH⁺ ₄. Alternatively, the addition of K⁺ on day 2 slowed the release rate of NH⁺ ₄ measured by NO^? ₃ appearance from day 10 to 40 but had no effect thereafter. At the end of the experiment considerably more K⁺ than NH⁺ ₄ was retained suggesting that K⁺ was more firmly fixed. However, the continuing nitrification of NH⁺ ₄ must be contrasted with periodic removal of K⁺ by leaching with 0.01 M CaCl₂ solution since the equilibrium between exchangeable and fixed ions was affected. There were no notable differences between the two soils inspite of a considerable difference in clay content.     

Plant nitrate use in deciduous woodland: the relationship between leaf N, N natural abundance of forbs and soil N mineralisation

Our aim was to study whether the in situ natural abundance ¹⁵N (δ¹⁵N)-values and N concentration of understory plants were correlated with the form and amount of mineral N available in the soil. Also to determine whether such differences were related to earlier demonstrations of differences in biomass increase in the same species exposed to nutrient solutions with both and or to alone. Several studies show that the δ¹⁵N of in soil solution generally is isotopically lighter than the δ¹⁵N of due to fractionation during nitrification. Hence, it is reasonable to assume that plant species benefiting from in ecosystems without significant leaching or denitrification have lower δ¹⁵N-values in their tissues than species growing equally well, or better, on We studied the δ¹⁵N of six understory species in oak woodlands in southern Sweden at 12 sites which varied fivefold in potential net N mineralisation rate The species decreased in benefit from in the following order: Geum urbanum, Aegopodium podagraria, Milium effusum, Convallaria majalis, Deschampsia flexuosa and Poa nemoralis. Four or five species demonstrated a negative correlation between and leaf δ¹⁵N and a positive correlation between and leaf N concentration. In wide contrast, only D. flexuosa, which grows on soils with little nitrification, showed a positive correlation between and the leaf N concentration and δ¹⁵N-value. Furthermore, δ¹⁵N of plants from the field and previously obtained indices of hydroponic growth on relative to were closely correlated at the species level. We conclude that δ¹⁵N may serve as a comparative index of uptake of among understory species, preferably in combination with other indices of N availability. The use of δ¹⁵N needs careful consideration of known restrictions of method, soils and plants.     

Correction of iron chlorosis in peanut (arachis hypogea shulamit) by ammonium sulfate and nitrification inhibitor

Peanut (Arachis hypogea cv. Shulamit) grown on very high calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) content soils is showing iron (Fe) chlorosis symptoms. Supplying the plant with ammonium sulphate ((NH₄)₂SO₄) in the presence of nitrapyrin (N‐Serv) for preventing nitrification reduced Fe chlorosis. Nitrate (NO^‐ ₃) developed in the soil with time, even with nitrapyrin present. When ammonium (NH⁺ ₄) was even less than 20% of the total mineral N in the soil, no Fe‐stress could be observed, suggesting that the NH⁺ ₄ uptake by the plant and the consequence of hydrogen (H⁺) efflux occurs from the root to the rhizosphere, resulting in a decrease of redox potential near the root, and solubilizing enough Fe near the root to overcome the chlorosis.     

Recovery of soil nitrate by Kjeldahl analysis

Abstract

Recovery of ¹⁵N‐labeled and non‐labeled NO₃ ^‐‐N (100 μg) during total N determination by a semimicro‐Kjeldahl procedure, not modified to include NO₃ ^‐‐N quantitatively, was studied in the presence and absence of soils varying in organic C. Recovery of NO₃ ^‐‐N was negligible in non‐soil systems, irrespective of whether water was present or not, unless an oxidizable C source, octyl alcohol (0.04 g), was added to the digestion mixture; addition of octyl alcohol resulted in a recovery of 78 and 87 μg NO₃ ^‐‐N in the presence and absence of water, respectively. Recovery of 100 μg NO₃ ^‐‐N added to soils containing from 0.1 to 3.8 g of C/cg of soil ranged from 34 to 90 pg NO₃ ^‐‐N in the absence of water. The recovery of the added NO₃ ^‐‐N was in the same order, but not proportional to, the organic C content of these soils. Addition of soil NO₃ ^‐‐N, determined by a separate method of analysis, to a regular Kjeldahl‐N value is not a satisfactory method for determining total soil N.     

Characterization of plasma membrane-bound Fe3+-chelate reductase from Fe-deficient and Fe-sufficient cucumber roots

Abstract

One of the authors analyzed the brown spot symptoms developed on plant leaves caused by nutritional disorders using an X-ray Micro-Analyser (Sasaki et al. 1980). The use of an X-ray Fluorescence Element Mapping Spectrometer (XEMS) revealed that external and internal stresses such as X-ray irradiation and manganese excess induced the transport of manganese, and excess of manganese concentration as cationic Mn²⁺ was related to the formation of the abnormal brown spots (Watanabe and Kobayashi 1986; Watanabe et al. 1988). Since, the mechanism of the transport of manganese remains to be elucidated the analysis of the chemical state of manganese in plant is important. Since the valency of manganese readily changes depending on the redox potential, non-destructiye analysis may be effective. In fact, few studies have been carried out on the non-destructive determination of the manganese state in plant tissues. We studied the state of manganese in rice leaf in performing Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) and X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) analyses by X-ray Absorption Spectrometry with syncrotron radiation as the analytical source. X-ray absorption spectrometry provides structural information about the local surroundings of a metal ion, the binding configuration, etc. The concept and method of analysis were reviewed in detail by Teo (1981). The advantage of these methods over the previous methods is reported and the state and transport of manganese in leaf are discussed.     

Relationship between Gu(II) sorption and active H+ sorption sites of soils

Sorption characteristics of Cu(PI) were investigated using six soils coPBected in Korea (JUF9 SUM, and HHM) and in Japan (HNG, TWD, and ISM). The Cu(IH) sorption amount increased with increasing initial Cu(II) concentration. The maximnm sorption amount of @u(PI) increased in the order of KHM< ISK< JUM < JUF < TWD < KNG, and was related to the pH and BZSE of soils. The H⁺ release curves due to Cu(II) sorption apparently were characterized by a two or three step pattern. The amount of H⁺ released due do Cu(II) sorption increased with the increase in the Cu(II) sorption amount. The amount of protons released per Cu(II) sorbed onto soils with a larger Gu(II) sorption amount tended to be smaller compared with soils with a smaller Cu(HHQ sorption amount. The W⁺ sorption amount of the original soils and those with Cu(II) sorption at the PZSE, which was referred to as σ_P (Sakurai et al. 1988: Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 34, 171–182; 1996: Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 67, 32–39), was determined by the STPT method proposed by Sakurai et al. (4988: Soil Sci. Plant Nutp., 34, 171–182). The active H⁺ sorption sites of soils were used for Cu(II) sorption and their amount decreased after Cu(II) sorption because they were covered with Cu(II). Soils with a larger amount of active H⁺ sorption sites exhibited a higher aEamity to Cu(II) khan those with a smaller amount of active H⁺ sorption sites. The Cu(II) sorption created a positive charge in soils, causing the decrease in the amount of active H⁺ sorption sites.     

Study of K+ uptake kinetics of flue-cured tobacco in K+-enriched and conventional tobacco genotypes

Screening of potassium efficient genotypes will be one of the best ways to solve the low potassium content of flue-cured tobacco. The study was conducted to determine whether the potassium efficient genotypes could be screening with high K⁺ uptake efficiency. The K⁺ uptake characteristics of a high K⁺ content line (GK8) and the conventional cultivated variety (K326) of flue-cured tobacco were compared at the seedling stage. K_m, C_min, and I_max values were higher in young seedlings (4?～?5 versus 6?～?7 leaf stage) and cultures with high initial K⁺ concentration (0.35 versus 0.25?mmol?L^?1). Culture solutions with a high K⁺ concentration (2.0 versus 0.6?mmol?L^?1) showed a high K_m, and C_min, but the I_max was lower as compared with the young seedlings and the solution with high initial K⁺ concentration. In conclusion, the GK8?line had a stronger ability for limited K⁺ uptake than K.