华西雨屏区苦竹林土壤呼吸对模拟氮沉降的响应

 2007年11月至2008年11月, 对华西雨屏区苦竹(Pleioblastus amarus)人工林进行了模拟氮沉降试验, 氮沉降水平分别为对照(CK, 0 g N·m^–2·a^–1)、低氮(5 g N·m^–2·a^–1)、中氮(15 g N·m^–2·a^–1)和高氮(30 g N·m^–2·a^–1)。每月下旬, 采用红外CO₂分析法测定土壤呼吸速率, 并定量地对各处理施氮(NH₄NO₃)。结果表明: 2008年试验地氮湿沉降量为8.241 g·m^–2, 超出该地区氮沉降临界负荷。在生长季节, 苦竹林根呼吸占总土壤呼吸的60%左右。模拟氮沉降促进了苦竹林土壤呼吸速率, 使苦竹林土壤每年向大气释放的CO₂增加了9.4%～28.6%。在大时间尺度上(如1 a), 土壤呼吸主要受温度的影响。2008年6～10月, 土壤呼吸速率24 h平均值均表现为: 对照<低氮<中氮<高氮。氮沉降处理1 a后, 土壤微生物呼吸速率和土壤微生物生物量碳、氮增加, 并且均与氮沉降量具有相同趋势。各处理土壤呼吸速率与10 cm土壤温度、月平均气温呈极显著指数正相关关系, 利用温度单因素模型可以解释土壤呼吸速率的大部分。模拟氮沉降使得土壤呼吸Q₁₀值增大, 表明氮沉降可能增强了土壤呼吸的温度敏感性。在氮沉降持续增加和全球气候变暖的背景下, 氮沉降和温度的共同作用可能使得苦竹林向大气中排放的CO₂增加。     

施用坡缕石对黄绵土中尿素氮的挥发和淋溶损失的影响

通过室内模拟试验,采用吸收法和土柱淋溶法研究了施用坡缕石对黄绵土中尿素氮的挥发和淋溶的影响.结果表明：施用坡缕石+尿素处理能降低尿素氨挥发高峰期的挥发速率,比单施尿素处理的氨挥发损失减少了13.6%～15.0%.坡缕石施用量为0.3和0.6 g·kg^-1时,降低了NH₄⁺-N和NO₃^--N的淋溶速率,无机氮淋溶损失比单施尿素处理分别减少13.7%和13.6%;而坡缕石施用量为0.9 g·kg^-1时,加快了NH₄⁺-N和NO₃^--N的淋溶速率,无机氮淋溶损失比单施尿素处理增加了6.1%.施用低量（0.3 g·kg^-1）坡缕石+尿素处理土壤的NH₄⁺-N含量比单施尿素处理提高了0.20 mg·kg^-1,而施用高量（0.9 g·kg^-1）坡缕石+尿素处理土壤的NH₄⁺-N含量比单施尿素处理降低了0.42 mg·kg^-1;施用坡缕石+尿素处理土壤的NO₃^--N含量比单施尿素处理增加1.24～2.52 mg·kg^-1.表明施用坡缕石能减少土壤中尿素氨的挥发损失,在一定用量范围内能降低NH₄⁺-N和NO₃^--N的淋失,提高土壤NH₄⁺-N和NO₃^--N含量.     

半湿润地区农田夏玉米氮肥利用率及土壤硝态氮动态变化

以土垫旱耕人为土为供试土壤,通过田间试验,研究了不同施氮量下（0、45、90、135和180 kg·hm^-2）夏玉米生育期土壤剖面NO₃^--N的变化特征、氮素利用率及施氮量与土壤NO^₃--N残留的关系.结果表明：在整个生育期内,土壤NO₃^--N含量均以0～20 cm土层最高,且施氮量越高,NO₃^--N含量也越高;0～60 cm土层NO₃^--N含量变化显著,60～100 cm土层NO₃^--N含量变化不大.夏玉米整个生育期,受玉米对氮素的需求和降雨的影响, 0～100 cm土层NO₃^--N累积量呈波动式降低趋势;当施氮量小于135 kg·hm^-2时,作物氮肥利用率随施氮量的增加而显著提高,但当施氮量超过135 kg·hm^-2时呈下降趋势. 氮肥农学利用率随施氮量的增加而减小,氮肥生理利用率随施氮量的增加而递增.土壤中残留NO₃^--N与施氮量呈极显著正线性相关关系 (R²=0.957^**,n=5);施氮处理籽粒产量显著高于不施氮处理(P<0.05）;施氮量与籽粒产量呈极显著正线性相关关系（R²=0.934^**,n=5）.在本试验条件下,夏玉米生长季适宜施氮量为135 kg·hm^-2.该施氮水平可保证效益和环境的双赢.     

浮床植物系统对富营养化水体中氮、磷净化特征的初步研究

以浮床空心菜(Ipomoea aquatica)、水芹(Oenanthe javanica)和无植物系统为对象,研究了其在富营养化水体中对N、P的去除及其N2O的排放情况.结果表明,浮床植物系统对水体中N、P具有良好的净化效果,植物组织所累积的N、P量分别占各自系统去除量的0.32%～63.87%,说明植物的同化吸收作用是N、P去除的主要途径.换水周期内浮床植物系统中硝化反应进行充分,而反硝化反应相对缓慢,导致系统具有较高的NH₄⁺- N去除率,而产生NO₃^--N累积.植物的存在降低了系统中N ₂O的排放通量.生长较好的空心菜系统在换水前后平均N₂O排放量最低,为17.14 μg N·m^-2·h^-1,空白高达85.08 μg N·m^-2 ·h^-1,水芹为37.38 μg N·m^-2·h^-1.     

元素硫和双氰胺对蔬菜地土壤硝态氮淋失的影响

采用温室盆栽淋洗试验,以NH₄HCO₃为氮肥源,研究了元素硫(S₀)和双氰胺（DCD）对种葱和不种作物土壤NO₃^--N淋失量和NO₃^--N、NH₄⁺-N浓度的影响.结果表明,在12周试验期间,与对照相比,S₀+DCD和S₀处理NO₃^--N淋失量分别低83%～86%和83%;NH₄⁺-N淋失量分别高16.8～21.0 mg·盆^-1和20.4～25.0 mg·盆^-1;而同期无机氮（NO₃^--N、NH₄⁺-N）淋失量则低60%.试验结束后,,S₀+DCD和S₀处理土壤无机氮含量分别比对照高79.9%～85.4%和74.9%～82.6%,以NH₄⁺-N为主.S₀+DCD处理无机氮淋失量比S₀和DCD处理分别低4.6%～14.4%和15.4%～30.1%;试验结束后土壤无机氮分别高6.1%和16.8～36.0%.在Na₂S₂O₃+DCD、Na₂S₂O₃和DCD处理中也发现类似结果.可见S₀施入土壤具有与DCD同样的氨稳定和硝化抑制作用.S₀与DCD配合施用可使DCD的硝化抑制性增强,其作用机理是S₀氧化中间体S₂O₃^2-、S₄O₆^2-,具有抑制硝化和DCD降解作用,延缓DCD硝化抑制效果.S0与DCD配合施用可用于延缓太湖流域蔬菜地土壤NH₄⁺-N向NO₃^--N转化,减少氮向水体迁移风险.     

尿素和包膜尿素对大棚内有害气体浓度变化的影响

通过室内模拟和塑料大棚试验,研究了普通尿素和矿物改性包膜尿素对土壤pH值及大棚内有害气体浓度变化的影响.结果表明,在室内模拟试验条件下,两种氮肥施用初期均导致土壤pH值上升,并于1周后达到最大值,上升幅度超过50％,随后开始下降,至第5周回到初始水平.大棚内施用两种氮肥均使棚内NH₃、NO₂和O₃浓度增加,其中施用普通尿素处理的NH₃、NO₂日均挥发量均大于矿物改性包膜尿素;施用普通尿素处理使大棚内土壤的NH₃、棚内NO₂和O₃的最高浓度达到42.36、41.95和86.00 μg·m^-3·d^-1,3种气体浓度均达到了有害气体伤害植物的临界阈值;NH₃、NO₂挥发强度受棚温和光照强度的影响,O₃浓度随光照强度变化而改变.     

红豆草与土壤氮含量对大气二氧化碳浓度升高的响应

在封闭的植物培养箱中,通过盆栽实验,研究了红豆草和土壤氮含量对CO₂浓度增加的响应.结果表明,与正常CO₂浓度(355～370 μmol·mol^-1)相比,CO₂浓度升高(700 μmol·mol^-1),植物生物量增加25.1%(P＜0.01),但植物体氮浓度降低25.3%(P＜0.001),植物全氮没有显著的变化.经3个月盆栽实验后,与原始土壤相比,两种CO₂浓度处理土壤全N、NO₃^--N和NH₄⁺-N都有所降低,而土壤微生物氮则显著增加,这可能与植物生长有关.不同CO₂浓度处理土壤NH₄⁺-N浓度基本一致,但在高CO₂浓度下,土壤NO₃^--N浓度显著降低,而微生物生物氮显著增加.对整个土壤-植物系统而言,盆栽实验后,整个系统全氮有少量增加,但变化不显著,特别是在高CO₂浓度条件下,土壤-植物系统全氮最大,这可能与培养材料红豆草为豆科植物,而且在高CO₂浓度下生物量增加,导致氮的固定量增加有关.     

控释氮肥对洞庭湖区双季稻田表面水氮素动态及其径流损失的影响

用渗漏池模拟洞庭湖区2种主要稻田土壤(河沙泥和紫潮泥),研究了施用尿素(CF)和控释氮肥(CRNF)对双季稻田表面水pH、电导率(EC)、全氮（TN）、铵态氮（NH₄⁺-N）和硝态氮（NO₃^--N）浓度变化规律及TN径流损失的影响.结果表明,双季稻田施用尿素后,表面水TN、NH₄⁺-N浓度分别在第1、3天达到高峰,然后迅速下降;NO₃^--N浓度普遍很低;早稻表面水pH在施用尿素后15 d内(晚稻3 d)逐渐升高;EC与NH₄⁺动态变化一致.与尿素相比,施用CRNF能显著降低双季稻田表面水pH、EC、TN和NH₄⁺-N浓度,70% N控释氮肥的控制效果最显著;但后期NO₃^--N浓度略有升高.径流监测结果表明,洞庭湖区种植双季稻期间施用尿素的TN径流损失为7.70 kg·hm^-2,占施氮量的2.57%;施肥后20 d内发生的径流事件对双季稻田TN径流损失的贡献极为显著;与施用尿素相比,施用控释氮肥显著降低了施肥后10 d内发生的第1次径流液中的TN浓度,施用CRNF和70%N CRNF的氮素径流损失分别降低24.5%和27.2%.     

葡萄糖存在下选择性抑菌剂对土壤氮素转化的影响

采用2种氮源并分别加入选择性微生物抑制剂进行室内培养,通过测定样品中NH₄⁺-N和NO₃^--N及土壤中氨基葡萄糖和胞壁酸含量,研究土壤微生物氮素固持时间特征及其相对贡献.结果表明,加入青链霉素明显地降低了NH₄⁺-N的转化速率,且影响远大于真菌抑制剂放线菌酮;氨基葡萄糖和胞壁酸的相对比例急剧增加,而后趋于平衡;加入放线菌酮后NO₃-N转化速率持续下降,氨基葡萄糖的合成受到抑制,但加入细菌抑制剂青链霉素对其转化无显著影响.培养初期,细菌在葡萄糖存在下能快速固持NH₄⁺-N和NO₃^--N,并以NH₄⁺-N为首选氮源;培养后期,氮转化主要为真菌所推动,且真菌对NO₃^--N的利用能力显著大于细菌.     

新型吡唑类化合物DL-1的硝化抑制效应初探

以国内外应用较为广泛的硝化抑制剂双氰胺（DCD）为参比对象,采用室内培养方法,对新型吡唑类化合物DL-1的硝化抑制效应进行初步探讨.结果表明,DL-1对土壤中铵的氧化过程具有显著的抑制效应,前3周的硝化抑制率可达70％以上,且硝化抑制能力在第14天至28天最强.与等量DCD相比,施用量为(NH₄)₂SO₄氮量1.0%的DL-1在14、21和28 d使土壤中的NO₃^--N含量分别下降 26.23%、33.27%和23.31%;与不加抑制剂的对照处理相比,土壤NO₃^--N含量则分别下降了71.12%、69.10%和55.14%.当DL-1用量为(NH₄)₂SO₄氮量的2。0%时,土壤的硝化作用受到了更强烈的抑制,到培养第90天试验结束,土壤中的NO₃^--N含量始终维持在较低水平.     

Concurrent Rates of N2 Fixation, Nitrate and Ammonium Uptake by White Clover in Response to Growth at Different Root Temperatures

Nodulated white clover plants (Trifolium repens L. cv. Huia)were grown for 71 d in flowing nutrient solutions containingN as 10 mmol m_–3 NH₄NO₃, under artificial illumination,with shoots at 20/15°C day/night temperatures and root temperaturereduced decrementally from 20 to 5°C. Root temperatureswere then changed to 3, 7, 9, 11, 13, 17 or 25°C, and theacquisition of N by N₂ fixation, NH₄+ and NO₃^– uptakewas measured over 14 d. Shoot specific growth rates (d. wt)doubled with increasing temperature between 7 and 17°C,whilst root specific growth rates showed little response; shoot:root ratios increased with root temperature, and over time at11°C. Net uptake of total N per plant (N₂ fixation + NH₄++ NO₃^–) over 14 d increased three-fold between 3 and 17°C.The proportion contributed by N₂ fixation decreased with increasingtemperature from 51% at 5°C to 18% at 25°C. Uptake ofNH₄+ as a proportion of NH₄+ + NO₃^– uptake over 14 d variedlittle (55–62%) with root temperature between 3 and 25°C,although it increased with time at most temperatures. Mean ratesof total N uptake per unit shoot f. wt over 14 d changed littlebetween 9 and 25°C, but decreased progressively with temperaturebelow 9°C, due to the decline in the rates of NH₄+ and NO₃^–uptake, even though N₂ fixation increased. The results suggestthat N₂ fixation in the presence of sustained low concentrationsof NH₄+ and NO₄^– is less sensitive to low root temperaturethan are either NH₄+ or NO₃^– uptake systems. White clover, Trifolium repens L. cv. Huia, root temperature, nitrogen fixation, ammonium, nitrate     

The Influence of NO-3 and NH+4 Nutrition on the Gas Exchange Characteristics of the Roots of Wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Maize (Zea mays) Plants

Respiratory oxygen consumption by roots was 1·4- and1·6-fold larger in NH⁺₄-fed than in NO^-₃-fed wheat (Triticumaestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) plants respectively. Higherroot oxygen consumption in NH⁺₄-fed plants than in NO^-₃-fedplants was associated with higher total nitrogen contents inNH⁺4-fed plants. Root oxygen consumption was, however, not correlatedwith growth rates or shoot:root ratios. Carbon dioxide releasewas 1·4- and 1·2-fold larger in NO⁺3-fed thanin NH⁺₄-fed wheat and maize plants respectively. Differencesin oxygen and carbon dioxide gas exchange rates resulted inthe gas exchange quotients of NH^-₄-fed plants (wheat, 0·5;maize, 0·6) being greatly reduced compared with thoseof NO^-₃-fed plants (wheat, 1·0; maize, 1·1). Measuredrates of HCO^-₃ assimilation by PEPc in roots were considerablylarger in 4 mM NH⁺₄-fed than in 4 NO^-₃ plants (wheat, 2·6-fold;maize, 8·3-fold). These differences were, however, insufficientto account for the observed differences in root carbon dioxideflux and it is probable that HCO^-₃ uptake is also importantin determining carbon dioxide fluxes. Thus reduced root extension in NH⁺₄-fed compared with NO^-₃-fedwheat plants could not be ascribed to differences in carbondioxide losses from roots.Copyright 1993, 1999 Academic Press Triticum aestivum, wheat, Zea mays, maize assimilation, ammonium assimilation, root respiration     

A comparison of nitrate transport in four different rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars

As rice can use both nitrate (NO₃^-) and ammonium (NH₄⁺), we have tested the hypothesis that the shift in the pattern of cultivars grown in Jiangsu Province reflects the ability of the plants to exploit NO₃^- as a nitrogen (N) source. Four rice cultivars were grown in solution culture for comparison of their growth on NO₃^- and NH₄⁺ nitrogen sources. All four types of rice, Xian You 63 (XY63), Yang Dao 6 (YD), Nong Keng 57 (NK) and Si You 917 (SY917), grew well and produced similar amounts of shoot biomass with 1 mmol/L NH₄⁺ as the only N source. However, the roots of NK were significantly smaller in comparison with the other cultivars. When supplied with 1 mmol/L NO₃^-, YD produced the greatest biomass; while NK achieved the lowest growth among the four cultivars. Electrophysiological measurements on root rhizodermal cells showed that the NO₃^--elicited changes in membrane potential (ΔE_m) of these four rice cultivars were significantly different when exposed to low external NO₃^- (<1 mmol/L); while they were very similar at high external NO₃^- (10 mmol/L). The root cell membrane potentials of YD and XY63 were more responsive to low external NO₃^- than those of NK and SY917. The ΔE_m values for YD and XY63 rhizodermal cells were almost the same at both 0.1 mmol/L and 1 mmol/L NO₃^-; while for the NK and SY917 the values became larger as the external NO₃^- increased. For YD cultivar, ΔE_m was measured over a range of NO₃^- concentrations and a Michaelis-Menten fit to the data gave a K_m value of 0.17 mmol/L. Net NO₃^- uptake depletion kinetics were also compared and for some cultivars (YD and XY63) a single-phase uptake system with first order kinetics best fitted the data; while other cultivars (ND and SY917) showed a better fit to two uptake systems. These uptake systems had two affinity ranges: one had a similar K_m in all the cultivars (0.2 mmol/L); the other much higher affinity system (0.03 mmol/L) was only present in NK and SY917. The expression pattern of twelve different NO₃^- transporter genes was tested using specific primers, but only OsNRT1.1 and OsNRT2.1 expression could be detected showing significant differences between the four rice cultivars. The results from both the physiological and molecular experiments do provide some support for the hypothesis that the more popular rice cultivars grown in Jiangsu Province may be better at using NO₃^- as an N source.     

龙须菜对海水氮磷富营养化的响应

 龙须菜(Gracilaria lemaneiformis)是红藻门江蓠属大型海藻,已从山东青岛引种到广东省南澳岛等地栽培多年。深入了解其光合作用与环境条件的关系,对龙须菜的合理栽培及其在环境生态中的生物学作用和扩大其开发利用价值,具有重要的理论和现实意义。该文利用人为配置的不同程度N、P污染海水处理龙须菜,研究其生理生态特性对海水氮磷富营养化的响应。结果表明：处理6 d后,龙须菜叶绿素a及3种藻胆蛋白含量和总抗氧化能力在轻度P（P 0.2 mg·L^－1）及重度N、P复合污染（P 10 mg·L^－1,N 55 mg·L^－1）情况下降低。叶绿素荧光参数的变化也表明上述处理对叶绿体PSⅡ造成不利影响,而在轻度N（N 0.9 mg·L^－1）和轻度N、P复合污染（P 0.2 mg·L^－1,N 0.9 mg·L^－1） 海水中上述参数则变化不大,表现出龙须菜对轻度N及轻度N、P复合污染的耐受性。该实验条件下,轻度污染处理后,藻体中不因环境N、P浓度升高而富集N、P。表明龙须菜可以作为轻度富营养化海水水体的净化藻类。     

Analysis of the Nitrogen Response of Leaf Extension in Lolium temulentum Seedlings

Lolium temulentum seedlings were grown on a nutrient mediumcontaining NH₄NO₂ at 0, 0·1, 0·5, 1·0 and4·3 mmoll^–1 as the sole N source. Relative andabsolute extension rates, maximal leaf size, duration of extensiongrowth, rate of leaf appearance and plastochron index were determinedfrom the parameters of Richards functions fitted to lengthsof laminae measured at intervals after sowing. The final lengthof leaf I was relatively insensitive to N whereas mean relativeextension rate was increased and duration of growth decreasedwith increasing NH₄NO₂ concentration. Leaves 2 and 3 enlargedprogressively with N at concentrations up to 1·0 mmoll^–1but were unresponsive thereafter. There was no significant correlationbetween final length and mean relative extension rate for leaves1 to 3. Leaves 4 to 6 continued to show increasing length beyond1·0 mmoll^–1 N and final length was significantlycorrelated with mean relative extension rate. Increasing N increasedthe rate of leaf appearance by decreasing the duration of leafextension and plastochron. These results are discussed in relationto the control of leaf and N turnover. Lolium temulentum, rye grass, leaf extension, nitrogen, Richards function, growth analysis     

Influence of milk whey, nitrogen and phosphorus concentration on oxalic acid production by Aspergillus niger

A factorial design at two levels was used to determine the effect of milk whey concentration and the addition of nitrogen (as NH₄NO₃) and phosphorus (as KH₂PO₄) on the oxalic acid production by Aspergillus niger. The results of the experiments indicated that milk whey contains enough nutrients for fungus growth, therefore medium supplementing with N and P is not necessary. The optimum milk whey concentration was 100 kg/m³ reaching a final oxalic acid concentration of 37 kg/m³ and a maximum production rate of 3.4 kg/m³ · d. The yield of oxalic acid was 0.4, a very high value compared to previous works.     

A comparison of the impacts of various nitrogen sources on acid-base balance in C3 Triticum aestivum L. and C4 Zea mays L. plants

This work aimed to study the impacts of acquisition and assimilationof various nitrogen sources, i.e. NO₃^–, NH₄⁺ or NH₄NO₃,in combination with gaseous NH₃ on plant growth and acid-basebalance in higher plants. Plants of C₃ Triticum aestivum L.and C₄ Zea mays L. grown with shoots in ambient air in hydroponicculture solutions with 2 mol m^–3 of nitrogen source asNO₃^–, NH₄⁺ or NH₄NO₃ for 21 d and 18 d, respectively,had their shoots exposed either to 320 µg m^–3 NH₃or to ambient air for 7 d. Variations in plant growth (leaves,stubble and roots), and OH^– and H⁺ extrusions as wellas the relative increases in nitrogen, carbon and carboxylatewere determined. These data were computed as H⁺/N, H⁺/C, (C-A)/N,and (C-A)/C to analyse influences of different nitrogen sourceson acid-base balance in C₃ Triticum aestivum and C₄ Zea maysplants. Root growth in dry weight gain was significantly reduced bytreatment with 320 µg m^–3 NH₃ in Triticum aestivumand Zea mays growing with different N-forms, whereas leaf growthwas not significantly affected by NH₃. In comparison with C₃Triticum aestivum, non-fumigated C₄ Zea mays had low ratiosof OH^–/N in NO₃^–3-grown plants and of H⁺/N in NH₄⁺- and NH ₄NO₃-grown plants. Utilization of NH₃ from the atmospherereduced both the OH^–N ratios in NO₃^– -grown plantsand the H⁺/N ratio in NH₄⁺ - and NH₄NO₃ -grown plants of bothspecies. Furthermore, Zea mays had higher ratios of (C-A)/Nin NH₄⁺ - and NH₄NO₃-grown plants than Triticum aestivum. Thismeans that C₄ Zea mays had synthesized more organic anion perunit increase in organic N than C₃ Triticum aestivum plants.Within both species, different nitrogen sources altered theratios of (C-A)/N in the order: NH₄NO₃>NH₄⁺>NO₃^–.Fumigation with NH₃ increased organic acid synthesis in NO₃^–- and NH₄⁺ - grown plants of Triticum aestivum, whereas it decreasedorganic acid synthesis in Zea mays plants under the same conditions.Furthermore, these differences in acid-base regulation betweenC₃ Triticum aestivum and C₄ Zea mays plants growing with differentnitrogen sources are discussed. Key words: Acid-base balance, ammonia, ammonium, nitrate, ammonium nitrate, C₃ Triticum aestivum L., C₄ Zea mays L.     

The Influence of the Concentration of Gaseous Ammonia on its Uptake by the Leaves of Italian Ryegrass, with and without an Adequate Supply of Nitrogen to the Roots

Whitehead, D. C. and Lockyer, D. R. 1986. The influence of theconcentration of gaseous ammonia on its uptake by the leavesof Italian ryegrass, with and without an adequate supply ofnitrogen to the roots.—J. exp. Bot. 38: 818–827. Plants of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) were grownin pots of soil with two rates of ¹⁵N-labclled nitrate, oneproviding adequate, and the other less than adequate, N formaximum growth. After 25 d in a controlled environment cabinet,the plants were transferred to chambers and exposed for 33 dto NH₃in the air at one of nine concentrations ranging from14 to 709 µg NH₃ m^–3. Increasing the concentrationof NH₃ in the air increased the dry weight of the shoots ofplants grown at the lower but not the higher rate of nitrate.The content of total N in the plant shoots (% dry weight) waslinearly related to NH₃ concentration; at 709 µg NH₃ andin both sets of plants it was more than double the content at14 µg NH₃ m^–3. Calculations, based on ¹⁵N enrichment,indicated that the amount of N taken up from the NH₃ per unitleaf area increased linearly with increasing concentration ofNH₃ in the air uptake (µg dm^–2 h^–1) = 0.1009xat the lower rate of nitrate and 0-0829x at the higher rateof nitrate, where x is the concentration of NH₃ in the air expressedas µg NH₃m^–3. The proportion of the total plant N that was derived from theNH₃ ranged from 4?0% at a concentration of 14 µg NH₃ m^–3with the higher rate of nitrate addition to 77?5% at a concentrationof 709 µg m^–3 with the lower rate of nitrate addition.The proportions of the total N in the water-insoluble proteinof the leaf tissue that were derived from nitrate and gaseousNH₃ were similar to the proportions in the whole leaf material. Key words: Ammonia, nitrogen, leaf sorption, Lolium multiflorum     

The Composition of Phloem Exudate and Xylem Sap from Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) Supplied with NH4+, NO""3 or NH4NO3

Shelp, B. J. 1987. The composition of phloem exudate and xylemsap from broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) suppliedwith NH⁺₄, NO₃ or NH₄NO₃.—J. exp. Bot. 38: 1619–1636. The detailed composition of xylem sap and exudate from stemincisions of attached inflorescences of broccoli (Brassica oleraceavar. italica) was compared in plants supplied with NH⁺₄, NO₃or NH₄NO₃. A phloem origin for the exudate was suggested fromthe high levels of sugars (71–133 mg cm^-3), amino acids(8·1-26·7 mg cm³) and K. (2·3–3·8mg cm³), the low levels of NO₃ and Ca, the high C: N (w/w) ratios(8·3–33), and the alkaline pH (7·2–7·3).In contrast, the xylem sap was mildly acidic (pH 5·6–6·0),and possessed lower levels of all organic and inorganic solutesbut NO₃ and Ca, and lower ratios of K: Ca, Mg: Ca and C: N (0·6–4·4). Glutamine was the predominant o-phthalaldehyde-reactive aminocompound in both transport fluids with the next most abundantamino acids dependent on sap type and N-form. Together witharginine, -aminobutyric acid, which was found only in the xylemstream, was enhanced by NH⁺₄compared to NO₃ -nutrition suggestingthat glutamate metabolism was stimulated in the roots. Underlimiting N the amino acid concentrations in the transport fluidswere greater with NH⁺₄ than with NO₃. NO₃ reduction occurredin both the root and shoot with the latter site predominatingover the entire N range (0-300 mol m³). Even though the compositionof nitrogenous solutes in the xylem was dependent on cultivarand N source, the composition of the phloem streams supplyingthe developing inflorescence was relatively unaffected. The data on the element composition of organs and phloem sapare interpreted to suggest that, in spite of the restrictedmobility of some elements such as B and Mn, a significant proportionof their total supply to developing sinks is carried in thephloem stream. Key words: Transport fluid composition, plant nutrition, phloem mobility.