Responses of cucumber plant to NH4 and NO3 nutrition: The relative addition rate technique vs. cultivation at constant nitrogen concentration

Different N sources (NO₃⁻, NH₄⁺, or NH₄NO₃) at different relative addition rates (RAR) were supplied to cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), a species sensitive to NH₄⁺ toxicity. For comparison, cucumber plants were also grown at constant concentrations of 1 and 5 mM NH₄⁺ or 5 mM NO₃⁻. The fresh weight of NH₄⁺-fed plants at RAR 0.15 and RAR 0.25 day⁻¹ was similar to that of NO₃⁻-fed plants, while at RAR 0.35 or RAR 0.45 day⁻¹ growth reduction occurred. When available as a constant concentration, NH₄⁺ decreased plant growth at 5 mM. It is concluded that at low rates of N supply the relative addition rate technique can be used for growing cucumber plants with NH₄⁺ as sole N source without deleterious effects.