Effects of Silver Nanoparticles on Soil Ammonia-Oxidizing Microorganisms Under Temperatures of 25 and 5℃

The excellent bactericidal performance of silver nanoparticles(Ag NPs) has led to their wide applications, resulting in increasing concerns about their potential environmental impacts. This study evaluated the influences of different concentrations of Ag NPs(0,1, 10, and 100 μg g~(-1) dry soil) on the ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms in soil at cultivation temperatures of 25 and 5℃ for 37 d. The results showed that 1 μg g~(-1) dry soil of Ag NPs had no acute effects on the ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms. However,10 and 100 μg g~(-1) dry soil of Ag NPs levels were found to significantly inhibit the activities of soil nitrification, with a decrease of69.89% and 94.55%, respectively, at 25℃ and 61.65% and 83.79%, respectively, at 5℃ compared to the control(0 μg g~(-1) dry soil of Ag NPs). These levels of Ag NPs also obviously decreased soil urease activity from about 380.47 ± 0.07(at 5℃) and 529.76± 13.44(at 25℃) mg N g~(-1) dry soil d~(-1) to 61.70 ± 2.97 and 68.29 ± 8.22 mg N g~(-1) dry soil d~(-1), respectively, after 37 d of cultivation. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed the abundance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and bacteria. For the same exposure time, the effects of Ag NPs on the activities of ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms and urease decreased with decreasing temperature. The threshold concentration of Ag NPs that induced negative effects on ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms was higher at 5℃ than at 25℃. Therefore, the temperature has a major impact on the toxicity of Ag NPs to ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms and on the urease activity, with toxicity being reduced with decreasing temperature.     

Relationships between sulfur concentration in mulberry Leaves and the quality of silkworm cocoon

A 40-day gnotobiotic microcosm experiment was carried out to quantify the effect of bacterial-feeding nematode on plat growth and nutrient absorption.The results showed that inoculation of bacterial-feeding nematode Protorhabditis sp.stimulated the growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and the uptake of N.By the end of the 40-day incubation wheat biomass and N uptake in the treatment with nematode and bacteria (Pseudomonas sp.)increased by 6.5% and 5.9%,respectively,compared with bacteria alone treatment.The presence of nematode mainly accelerated the growth of aboveground of wheat,while it slightly inhibited the root development.There was little difference in plant tissue N concentration between treatments.P concentration and uptake of wheat,however,were generally reduced by nematode, It appears that the enhancement of plant growth and nitrogen uptake is attributed to the enhancement of nitrogen mineraliztion induced by nematode feeding on bacteria,and the reduction of phosphorous uptake is the result of ewak root status and comptetition by bacteria immobilzation.     

基于傅里叶变换中红外光声光谱的土壤顶空氨浓度的原位测定

Ammonia(NH3) volatilization is one of the important pathways of nitrogen loss in alkaline soil, and the NH3 concentration in soil headspace is directly linked with the NH3 volatilization. Ammonia was characterized by Fourier transform mid-infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy(FTIR-PAS) and two typical absorption bands in the region of 850–1 200 cm-1were observed, which could be used for the prediction of NH3 concentration in the soil headspace. An alkaline soil from North China was involved in the soil incubation, pot and field experiments under three fertilization treatments(control without N input(CK), urea and coated urea). Ammonia concentrations in the soil headspace were determined in each experiment. In the soil incubation experiment, the NH3 emissions were initiated by the N input, reached the highest concentration on day 2, and decreased to the level as measured in CK after 8 d, with significantly higher NH3 emissions in the urea treatment compared to coated urea treatment, especially during the first 4 d. The NH3 concentration in soil headspace of the pot experiment showed the similar dynamics as that in the incubation experiment; however, the NH3 concentration in the soil headspace in the field experiment demonstrated a significantly different emission pattern with those of the incubation and pot experiments, and there was a 4-d delay for the NH3 concentration. Therefore, the NH3 concentration in the incubation and pot experiments could not be directly used to model the real NH3 emission in the field due to the differences in fertilization method and application rate as well as soil temperature and soil disturbance. It was recommended that light irrigation in the second week after fertilization and involvement of controlled release coated urea could be used to significantly decrease N loss from the perspective of NH3 volatilization.     

长期使用含铜杀真菌剂对苹果园土壤中自由态铜离子、固相铜形态分级以及微生物活性的影响

Soil samples were collected from apple orchards 5,15,20,30,and 45 years old,and one adjacent forest soil was used as reference to investigate the free Cu2+ion activity in soil solution and the soil Cu fractionation in the solid phase following long-term application of copper fungicide,Bordeaux mixture,in apple orchards and to investigate the relationships among soil free Cu2+ions,Cu fractionation and soil microbial parameters.The total Cu concentration in the orchard soils varied from 21.8 to 141 mg kg-1,increasing with the orchard age,and the value for the reference soil was 12.5 mg kg-1.The free Cu2+ion concentrations in the soil solutions extracted by 0.01 mol L-1 KNO3 ranged from 3.13×10-8(reference)to 4.08×10-6 mol L-1(45 years-old orchard).The concentration of Cu complexed in the fulvic fraction increased with orchard age from 5.16 to 52.5 mg kg-1.This was also the case for other soil Cu fractions except the residual one.The residual soil Cu remained practically constant,ranging from 4.28 to 5.66 mg kg-1,suggesting that anthropogenic soil Cu mainly existed in the more labile active fractions.Regression analyses revealed that both the free Cu2+ions in the soil solution and the humic acid-complexed Cu fraction in the solid phase were strongly related with soil microbial parameters.     

厌氧去除活性污泥中痕量有机污染物:15年实验研究

Knowledge of cellular metal homeostasis will provide a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in metal tolerance and hyperaccumulation in metal-hyperaccumulating plants. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) was used to determine the localization of cadmium (Cd) in leaves of the Zn/Cd hyperaccumulator Picris divaricata which had a shoot Cd concentration of 565 mg kg 1 after 2 weeks of growth in solution culture supplying 10 μmol L-1 CdCl2 . The results indicated that Cd was distributed mainly in the trichomes, upper and lower epidermis and bundle sheath cells, with a relatively low level of Cd in mesophyll cells. Mesophyll protoplasts isolated from leaves remained viable after 24 h exposure to CdCl2 at a concentration up to 1 mmol L-1 , indicating their high tolerance to Cd. The intracellular Cd was visualized by staining with Leadmium Green dye, a cellular permeable Cd fluorescence probe. The results showed that the majority of protoplasts (> 82%) did not accumulate Cd, with only a minority (< 18%) showing Cd accumulation. In the Cd-accumulating protoplasts, Cd accumulation was depressed by the addition of Fe2+ , Mn2+ and the metabolic inhibitor carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), but not by Ca 2+ or Zn2+ . Furthermore, the entire process of Cd uptake from external solution into the cytoplasm and subsequent sequestration into vacuoles was successfully recorded by confocal images. These results suggested that reduced cellular Cd accumulation and efficient Cd vacuolar sequestration in mesophyll cells might be responsible for cellular Cd tolerance and distribution in the leaves of P. divaricata.     

Effects of Silver Nanoparticles on Soil Ammonia-Oxidizing Microorganisms Under Temperatures of 25 and 5℃

The excellent bactericidal performance of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) has led to their wide applications, resulting in increasing concerns about their potential environmental impacts. This study evaluated the influences of different concentrations of Ag NPs (0, 1, 10, and 100 μg g^-1 dry soil) on the ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms in soil at cultivation temperatures of 25 and 5℃ for 37 d. The results showed that 1 μg g^-1 dry soil of Ag NPs had no acute effects on the ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms. However, 10 and 100 μg g^-1 dry soil of Ag NPs levels were found to significantly inhibit the activities of soil nitrification, with a decrease of 69.89% and 94.55%, respectively, at 25℃ and 61.65% and 83.79%, respectively, at 5℃ compared to the control (0 μg g^-1 dry soil of Ag NPs). These levels of Ag NPs also obviously decreased soil urease activity from about 380.47 ±0.07 (at 5℃) and 529.76 ±13.44 (at 25℃) mg N g^-1 dry soil d^-1 to 61.70 ±2.97 and 68.29 ±8.22 mg N g^-1 dry soil d^-1, respectively, after 37 d of cultivation. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed the abundance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and bacteria. For the same exposure time, the effects of Ag NPs on the activities of ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms and urease decreased with decreasing temperature. The threshold concentration of Ag NPs that induced negative effects on ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms was higher at 5℃ than at 25℃. Therefore, the temperature has a major impact on the toxicity of Ag NPs to ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms and on the urease activity, with toxicity being reduced with decreasing temperature.     

与黑鹰嘴豆(Vigna mungo L.)共生的VA菌根、解磷细菌及根瘤菌在田间条件下的协同作用

A field experiment was conducted at the G.B.Pant University Research Station,Ujhani(U.P.)in rainy (Kharif) season of the year 1994-1995 to study the effect of Rhizobium,VAM(vesicular arbuscular myc-orrhiza) and PSB(phophate solubilizing bacteria) inoculation,with and without P,on blackgram(Vigna mungo L.) seed yield.Phosphorus application in sol with medium P content(5.4 mg kg^-1) increased nodulation,grain yield,N and P in plant and grain over no phosphorus control.Forty kilograms of P2O5 each hactare recorded an increase of 20.6% in nodule dry weight,significant increases of 0.35 g kg^-1 in N concentration and 1.28 g kg^-1 in P concentration of plant over 20 kg P2O5 ha^-1 ,Similar significan increases of 0.5 g kg^-1 in grain yield and 0.54 and 0.23 g kg^-1 in N and P concentrations of the grain,respectively,over 20 kg P2O5 ha^-1 were also obtained with higher dose.Inoculation of Rhizobium VAM PSB at all the stages of plant growth recorded maximum increaes in all the parameers studied .Dual inoculation of Rhizobium with either VAM or PSB was generally significan in the effect and better than that of VAM PSB,however,P accumulation in plat and grain was more with VAM PSB.A mong single inoculations,Rhizobium gave highest and 21.0% more nodule number,34.7% more nodule dry mass,0.73 g kg^-1 more N in grain and 4.2% higher grain yield over PSB.PSB.however,registered significant increases in P concentration in plant and grain over VAM and Rhizobium.     

土壤氮有效性在细菌路径中的响应?

Measurements of concentrations of easily extractable soil nitrogen(N) were carried out on samples collected at the Heron Wood Reserve,Scotland,concurrently with investigations of N associated with total microbial biomass and the abundances of bacteria,fungi,and invertebrates.Soil biota at the studied site appeared to be limited by N.There was a remarkable difference between the ambient(i.e.,easily extractable N) and biomass nitrogen.The abundance data of bacteria,protozoa and nematodes significantly negatively correlated with ambient N but showed positive correlations with the total microbial N content.There were,however,remarkable differences between the correlation patterns exhibited by the fungal and the bacterial pathways,as fungi did not show any correlations with chemical variables.These differences should be taken into account whilst interpreting biological interactions both at this important site and elsewhere.     

接种食细菌线虫对小麦生长和N、P吸收的影响

A 40-day gnotobiotic microcosm experiment was carried out to quantify the effect of bacterial-feeding nematode on plant growth and nutrient absorption. The results showed that inoculation of bacterial-feeding nematode Protorhabditis sp. stimulated the growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and the uptake of N. By the end of the 40-day incubation wheat biomass and N uptake in the treatment with nematode and bacteria (Pseudomonas sp.) increased by 6.5% and 5.9%, respectively, compared with bacteria alone treatment. The presence of nematode mainly accelerated the growth of aboveground of wheat, while it slightly inhibited the root development. There was little difference in plant tissue N concentration between treatments. P concentration and uptake of wheat, however, were generally reduced by nematode. It appears that the enhancement of plant growth and nitrogen uptake is attributed to the enhancement of nitrogen mineralization induced by nematode feeding on bacteria, and the reduction of phosphorous uptake is the result of weak root status and competition by bacteria immobilization.     

中国某些水稻土中硝态氮向铵态氮的还原研究

Three paddy soils were examined for their capacities of dissimilatory reduction of nitrate to ammonium (DRNA). 15N-labelled KNO3 was added at the rate of 100 mg N/kg. Either glucose or rice straw powder was incorporated at the rate of 1.0 or 2.0 mg C/kg respectively. Three treatments were designed to keep the soil saturated with water: (1) a 2-cm water layer on soil surface (with beaker mouth open); (2) a 2-cm water layer and a 1-cm liquid paraffin layer (with beaker mouth open); and (3) water saturated under an O2-free Ar atmosphere. The soils were incubated at 28℃ for 5 days. There was almost no 15N-labelled NH4+-N detected in Treatment 1. However, there was 1.4 to 3.4 mg N/kg 15N-labelled NH4+-N in Treatment 2, and 2.1 to 13.8 mg N/kg in Treatment 3. Glucose was more effective than straw powder in ammonium production. Because there was sufficient amount of non-labelled NH4+-N in the original soils, 15N-labelled NH4+-N produced as such should be the result of dissimilatory reduction. Studies on microbial population showed that there were plenty of bacteria responsible for DRNA process (DRNA bacteria) in the soils examined, indicating that number of DRNA bacteria was not a limiting factor for ammonium production. However, DRNA bacteria were inferior in number to denitrifiers. The DRNA process in soil suspension started after 5 days of incubation. Glycerol and sodium succinate, though both are readily available carbon sources to organisms, did not facilitate DRNA process. DRNA occurred only when glucose was available and at a C:NO3--N ratio >12. Both availability and quality of the carbon sources affected DRNA.     

MODELING GROWTH AND ION CONCENTRATION OF LILIUM IN RESPONSE TO NITROGEN:POTASSIUM:CALCIUM MIXTURE SOLUTIONS

Nutrient solution composition plays an important role in root uptake rate due to interactions among nutrients and internal regulation. Studies to determine the optimum nutrient solution concentration are focused on individual ions, ignoring the adaptation mechanisms triggered by plants when growing in a varying external nutrient concentration. The objective of the present study was to determine the response in growth and tissue ion concentration of lilium cv. ‘Navona’ to nutrient mixtures of varying proportions of nitrogen (N), potassium (K⁺), and calcium (Ca²⁺) in solution using mixture experiments methodology in order to determine the optimum concentration. Bulbs of lilium were transplanted in plastic crates and drip-irrigated with the treatment solutions, which consisted of a mixture of N, K⁺, and Ca²⁺ whose total concentration was 340 mg L^?1 and minimum concentrations of each ion was 34 mg L^?1. Chlorophyll concentration (SPAD), shoot fresh weight (FW), leaf FW, and leaf area were measured 60 days after transplanting and ion analysis was performed on shoot tissues from selected treatments. Lilium exhibited a moderate demand for N and K⁺ (136–170 mg L^?1 N and 116–136 mg L^?1 K⁺) and a very low demand for Ca²⁺ (34–88 mg · L^?1). This low demand may be due to the remobilization of the nutrients stored in the bulbs. Integrating the predictions of the models estimated to produce >90% of maximum growth, the optimum nutrient solution should contain Ca²⁺ at a concentration between 34 and 126 mg · L^?1, K⁺ between 119 and 211 mg · L^?1, and N between 92 mg · L^?1 and 211 mg · L^?1. Increasing external N concentration affected internal N concentration but not internal K⁺ or Ca²⁺ concentrations, despite that the increase in external N was associated with a decrease in external K⁺ and Ca²⁺. Similar trends were observed for external K⁺ and Ca²⁺ concentration. In conclusion, lilium was able to maintain a relatively constant K⁺ and Ca²⁺ concentration regardless of the lower concentration in the nutrient solution when N was increased (similar response was observed for K⁺ and Ca²⁺) and it has a low Ca²⁺ demand and moderate N and K⁺ supply.     

Impacts of silver nanoparticles on enzymatic activities, nitrifying bacteria, and nitrogen transformation in soil amended with ammonium and nitrate

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are effective antimicrobial compounds that are used in a myriad of applications. Soil microorganisms play crucial roles in nitrogen cycling, but there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of the effects of AgNPs on enzymatic activity in the nitrogen cycle, nitrifying bacteria, and nitrogen transformation in soil. Herein, enzyme activities were determined following the addition of different forms of nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen ((NH₄)₂SO₄), nitrate nitrogen (KNO₃), and amide nitrogen (urea, CO(NH₂)₂) at 200 mg N kg^-1, into the soil amended with AgNPs at 0, 10, 50, and 100 mg kg^-1. After 7 d of incubation with 10 mg kg^-1 AgNPs, the activities of urease, nitrite reductase (NiR), nitrate reductase (NaR), and hydroxylamine reductase (HyR) were reduced by 12.5%, 25.0%, 12.2%, and 24.2%, respectively. Of particular note, more than 53.5%, 61.7%, and 34.7% of NaR, NiR, and HyR activities, respectively, were inhibited at 100 mg kg^-1AgNPs. The abundance (most probable number) of ammonia- and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (AOB and NOB, respectively) was measured using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and the Cochran method. The abundance of AOB and NOB decreased when AgNPs were present in the soil. The NH₄NO₃ amendment increased copy numbers of bacterial and archaeal amoA nitrification functional genes, by 38.3% and 12.4%, respectively, but AgNPs at 50 mg kg^-1 decreased these values by 70% and 56.4%, respectively. The results of ¹⁵N enrichment (atom% excess) of NH₄⁺ and NO₃^- experiments illustrated the influence of AgNPs on soil nitrogen transformation. According to the ¹⁵N atom% excess detected, the conversion of ¹⁵N-labeled NH₄⁺ to NO₃^- was significantly inhibited by the different levels of AgNPs in soil. The reduced gross nitrification rate further confirmed this finding. Overall, this study revealed considerable evidence that AgNPs inhibited nitrogen cycle enzyme activity, the number of nitrifying bacteria, the abundance of the amoA gene, and the gross nitrification rate. Silver nanoparticles inhibited nitrogen transformation, and the rate of nitrification was also negatively correlated with AgNP levels.     

Nitrite and Ammonium Toxicity on Lettuce Grown under Hydroponics

Abstract

Nitrite (NO₂ ^?‐N) toxicity symptoms have been observed on lettuce (Lactuca sativa) at various locations in California. The objective was to evaluate the symptoms of ammonium (NH₄ ⁺‐N) and nitrite (NO₂ ^?‐N) toxicity on Sundevil iceberg lettuce and Paragon romaine lettuce and to determine lettuce growth and biomass production under different levels of NO₂ ^?‐N. Hydroponic studies under greenhouse conditions were conducted using nutrient solutions containing nitrate (NO₃ ^?‐N) and two other forms of nitrogen (NO₂ ^?‐N and NH₄ ⁺‐N) applied at a constant concentration (50 mg NL^?1) or using different NO₂ ^?‐N levels (0, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 mg N L^?1) and a constant NO₃ ^?‐N level (30 mg N L^?1). Crown discoloration (brownish color) was observed for lettuce grown in both NO₂ ^?‐N and NH₄ ⁺‐N solutions approximately 3 weeks after transplanting into the hydroponic systems. Lettuce grown in NO₃ ^?‐N solution produced larger biomass and greater number of leaves per plant than lettuce grown in NO₂ ^?‐N or NH₄ ⁺‐N solutions. Increasing the concentration of NO₂ ^?‐N suppressed plant height, fresh and dry biomass yield, and number of leaves and increased the root vascular discoloration. Lettuce growth was reduced more than 50% at NO₂ ^?‐N concentrations greater than 30 mg N L^?1. Even at 5 mg NO₂ ^?‐N L^?1, growth was reduced 14 and 24% for romaine and iceberg lettuce, respectively, relative to that obtained in nitrate solution. Although concentrations between 5 and 40 mg NO₂ ^?‐N L ^?1 reduced dry biomass similarly for both lettuce types, toxicity symptoms were more severe in iceberg lettuce than in romaine.     

Evaluation of useful plants for the treatment of polluted pond water with low N and P concentrations

Eutrophication of ponds for agricultural use has begun to adversely affect rice production and the residential living environment in Japan. Cultivation of useful terrestrial and aquatic plant species in plant-bed filter ditches enables to treat domestic wastewater in addition to resource recycling and amenity functions. We evaluated the ability of several plant species, Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), hanana (Brassica campestris L. var.), African marigold (Tages erecta L.), sorghum (Sorghum vulgare Pers.), kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.), papyrus (Cyperus papyrus L.), and reed (Phragmites communis Trin.), to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from polluted pond water whose N and P concentrations were much lower than those in domestic wastewater. Artificial pond water containing 2.5 mg L^-1 of N and 0.5 mg L^-1 of P was supplied to ditches at a loading rate of 1.1 g m^-2 d^-1 for N and 0.21 g m^-2 d^-1 for P. Italian ryegrass, papyrus, or kenaf in ditches removed N and P more effectively than other plants. The average removal rate of Italian ryegrass in ditches was 0.62 g m^-2 d^-1 for N and 0.10 g m^-2 d^-1 for P, that of papyrus 0.81 g m^-2 d^-1 for N and 0.15 g m^-2 d^-1 for P, and that of kenaf 0.73 g m^-2 d^-1 for N and 0.11 g m^-2 d^-1 for P. The influence of N and P concentrations on the removal rates of Italian ryegrass, papyrus, and kenaf was studied. Concentrations at a removal rate of zero were 0.2–0.3 mg L^-1 for N and 0.01–0.03 mg L^-l for P. At low concentrations, the plant removal rates increased sharply with the rise in the concentration. When N concentrations exceeded 0.3–0.6 mg L^-1 and P concentrations 0.10–0.45 mg L^-1, the removal rates were high and less affected by the concentration. It was considered that these plant species could be used most efficiently at the concentrations where removal rates are less restricted.     

Fertigation rate,leaching fraction,and growth of potted poinsettia

Single‐pinched poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima ’V‐14 Glory') in 15‐cm pots received constant fertigation with 50, 100, 200, and 300 mg.L^‐1 nitrogen (N) from a 20N‐4.4 phosphorus (P)‐16.6 potassium (K) fertilizer with a leaching fraction (LF) of 0, 0.2, or 0.4. Plants received 25 irrigations during the 13‐week study. The shoot fresh and dry masses with 50, 100, and 300 mg.L^‐1 N at the 0.4 LF were 30% larger than at the 0 LF. The 300 mg.L^‐1 N fertigated plants had approximately 15% more leaf area and almost 122% more bract area than the 50 mg.L^‐1 N fertigated plants. The leaf N concentration of plants fertigated with 100, 200, and 300 mg.L^‐1 N was near or in the normal range of 4 to 6%, but was below the critical level of 3.5% with 50 mg.L^‐1 N fertigation. In contrast, the leaf P concentration approached or exceeded the toxic level of 0.9% with 100 to 300 mg.L^‐1 N. The N fertigation of 100 to 200 mg.L^‐1 is adequate for producing a quality poinsettia crop. Quality poinsettias can be grown at a 0 LF if quality irrigation water is available. With 11 mg.L^‐1 P via fertigation, the leaf P concentration was in the acceptable range. The P concentration in the 20N‐4.4P‐16.6K complete fertilizer was excessive for poinsettia and would contribute to unnecessary P leaching.     

Supplements of Nickel Affect Yield,Quality, and Nitrogen Metabolism When Urea or Nitrate is the Sole Nitrogen Source for Cucumber

ABSTRACT

Influences of nickel (Ni) concentrations in the nutrient solution on yield, quality, and nitrogen (N) metabolism of cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus cv ‘RS189’ and ‘Vikima’) were evaluated when plants were grown either with urea or nitrate as the sole N source. The cucumber plants were treated with two N sources, urea and nitrate as sodium nitrate (NaNO₃) at 200 mg L^?1, and three concentrations of Ni as nickel sulfate (NiSO₄·6H₂O; 0, 0.5, and 1 mg L^?1). Treatments were arranged in a randomized block design with six replicates. The highest concentration of Ni in the leaves (1.2 mg kg^?1 Dwt) was observed in the urea-fed plants at 1 mg L^?1 Ni concentration. Additions of Ni up to 0.5 mg L^?1 had no effect on the fruit Ni concentration in the both urea and nitrate-fed plants. Yield significantly (p < 0.05) increased with the Ni supplements from 0 to 0.5 mg L^?1 (10 and 15% in ‘RS189’ and ‘Vikima’, respectively), but decreased when 1 mg L^?1 Ni applied to the solutions in urea-fed plants. Nitrate-fed plants had a higher percentage of total soluble solids compare to those urea-fed plants. Nitrate concentrations of the fruits in urea-fed plants in both cultivars were reduced by approximately 50% compared to those nitrate-fed plants. The reduction of nitrate concentration in the fruits became more pronounced as the Ni concentration increased in the solution. The rate of photosynthesis (Pn) increased with the increase of the Ni concentration in the solution with urea-fed plants. Both N concentration and nitrate reductase (NR) activity of young leaves were higher in urea-fed plants at 0.5 mg l^?1 Ni concentration. Ni supplements enhanced the growth and yield of urea-fed plants by increasing Pn, N concentration and NR activity. It can be concluded that Ni supplements (0.5 mg l^?1) improve yield, quality, and NR activity in urea-fed cucumber plants.     

Nitrogen Source and Concentration Affect Growth and Performance of Bedding-Plant Impatiens

ABSTRACT

Impatiens (Impatiens wallerana Hook. f.) is the most important annual bedding plant in the United States, based on wholesale dollar volume. Production of high-quality plants requires optimization of the nutrition regimen during growth, especially the total nitrogen (N) concentration and the ratio of N sources. The objective was to determine the N concentration and the nitrate (NO₃ ^??N):ammonium (NH₄ ⁺?N) ratio of N source that optimized bedding-plant impatiens growth and flower development. Four N concentrations (3.5, 7, 10.5, and 14 mmol N · L^?1) were used in factorial combination with four ratios of NO₃ ^??N:NH₄ ⁺?N (4:0, 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3). Application of treatments was made for 30 d. Then for 10 d only deionized water was applied to reduce salt buildup. Substrate pH was lowest (4.9) with the NH₄ ⁺?N source and electrical conductivity (EC) highest, but never > 2.4 dS m^?1. Nitrogen concentration and N source displayed an interaction for most growth parameters. Shoot fresh and dry weights and flower bud number were maximized at the 1:3 NO₃ ^??N:NH₄ ⁺?N ratio with a N concentration of 10.5 mmol L^?1. However, plant diameter, leaf number, and leaf chlorophyll content responded quadratically to N form ratio, with the 1:1 ratio optimum at a concentration of 10.5 mmol N· L^?1.     

EFFECT OF LANTHANUM ON RICE PRODUCTION,NUTRIENT UPTAKE,AND DISTRIBUTION

ABSTRACT

Split root solution culture experiments were conducted to study the effects of the rare earth element lanthanum (La) on rice (Oryza sativa) growth, nutrient uptake and distribution. Results showed that low concentrations of La could promote rice growth including yield (0.05 mg L^?1 to 1.5 mg L^?1), dry root weight (0.05 mg L^?1 to 0.75 mg L^?1) and grain numbers (0.05 mg L^?1 to 6 mg L^?1). High concentrations depressed grain formation (9 mg L^?1 to 30 mg L^?1) and root elongation (1.5 mg L^?1 to 30 mg L^?1). No significant influence on straw dry weight was found over the whole concentration range except for the 0.05 mg L^?1 treatment. In the pot and field experiments, the addition of La had no significant influence on rice growth.Lanthanum had variable influence on nutrient uptake in different parts of rice. Low concentrations (0.05 mg L^?1 to 0.75 mg L^?1) increased the root copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and magnesium (Mg), and grain Cu, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), manganese (Mn), and Mg uptake. High concentrations (9 to 30 mg L^?1) decreased the grain Ca, zinc (Zn), P, Mn, Fe and Mg, and straw Ca, Mn, and Mg uptake. With increasing La concentration, root Zn, P, Mn, Cu, and Ca concentrations increased, and grain Ca and Fe, and straw Mn, Mg, and Ca concentrations decreased. Possible reasons are discussed for the differences between the effects of La in nutrient solutions and in pot and field experiments.     

Microbial decomposition of leached or extracted dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen from pasture soils

Microbial decomposition of extracted and leached dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON) was demonstrated from three pasture soils in laboratory incubation studies. DOC concentration in water extracts ranged between 29 and 148 mg C L^?1 and DON concentration ranged between 2 and 63 mg N L^?1. Between 17 and 61 % of the DOC in the water extracts were respired as CO₂ by microbes by day 36. DON concentrations in the extracts declined more rapidly than DOC. Within the first 21 days of incubation, the concentration of DON was near zero without any significant change in the concentration of NO₃ ^? or NH₄ ⁺, indicating that microbes had utilized the organic pool of N preferentially. Decomposition of leached DOC (ranged between 7 and 66 mg C L^?1) and DON (ranged between 6 and 11 mg N L^?1) collected from large lysimeters (with perennial pasture; 50 cm diameter?×?80 cm deep) followed a similar pattern to that observed with soil extracts. Approximately 28 to 61 % of the DOC in leachates were respired as CO₂ by day 49. The concentration of DON in the leachates declined to below 1 mg N L^?1 within 7–14 days of the incubation, consistent with the observations made with extractable DON. Our results clearly show that DOC and DON components of the dissolved organic matter in pasture soils, whether extracted or leached, are highly decomposable and bioavailable and will influence local ecosystem functions and nutrient balances in grazed pasture systems and receiving water bodies.     

Nitrogen and phosphorus leaching under the potential biennial oilseed plant Lepidium campestre L. in a field trial

Domestication of biennial Lepidium campestre L. offers possibilities for more varied crop rotations in cold regions, with increased crop cover during winter. In the first winter after sowing, L. campestre can reduce nitrogen (N) leaching before harvesting in the second year. In this system no soil tillage is needed during the first year, unlike in systems with annual crops. A three-year leaching study on loam soil in southern Sweden revealed significantly (p?<?0.05) lower flow-weighted mean total nitrogen (TN) concentration in drainage water under L. campestre (5.8 mg TN L^?1) compared with a control treatment (no catch crop and autumn mouldboard ploughing) (9.6 mg TN L^?1). In two years of observations, Lepidium campestre had lower flow-weighted mean TN concentration (6.2 mg L^?1) than a mixed Vicia villosa L. (hairy vetch)/Secale cereale (winter rye) catch crop (10.2 mg L^?1) and rather similar concentration to a Raphanus sativus (oilseed radish) catch crop (5.7 mg TN L^?1), both sown after harvest of the main crop. However, L. campestre appeared to have a negative effect on total phosphorus (TP) leaching, with TP concentration in drainage of 0.05 mg L^?1 compared with 0.01–0.02 mg L^?1 for the other catch crops and the control.