Photosynthetic parameters in seedlings of Eucalyptus grandis as affected by rate of nitrogen supply

Seedlings of Eucalyptus grandis were grown at five different rates of nitrogen supply. Once steady‐state growth rates were established, a detailed set of CO₂ and water vapour exchange measurements were made to investigate the effects of leaf nitrogen content (N), as determined by nitrogen supply rate, on leaf structural, photosynthetic, respiratory and stomatal properties. Gas exchange data were used to parametrize the Farquhar–von Caemmerer photosynthesis model. Leaf mass per area (LMA) was negatively correlated to N. A positive correlation was observed between both day (R_d) and night respiration (R_n) and N when they were expressed on a leaf mass basis, but no correlation was found on a leaf area basis. An R_d/R_n ratio of 0·59 indicated a significant inhibition of dark respiration by light. The maximum net CO₂ assimilation rate at ambient CO₂ concentration (A_max), the maximum rate of potential electron transport (J_max) and the maximum rate of carboxylation (V_cmax) significantly increased with N, particularly when expressed on a mass basis. Although the maximum stomatal conductance to CO₂ (g_scmax) was positively correlated with A_max, there was no relationship between g_scmax and N. Leaf N content influenced the allocation of nitrogen to photosynthetic processes, resulting in a decrease of the J_max/V_cmax ratio with increasing N. It was concluded that leaf nitrogen concentration is a major determinant of photosynthetic capacity in Eucalyptus grandis seedlings and, to a lesser extent, of leaf respiration and nitrogen partitioning among photosynthetic processes, but not of stomatal conductance.     

水氮处理下不同品种水稻根系生长分布特征

为明确不同栽培条件下水稻(Oryza sativa)根系生长分布特征, 通过不同水氮处理和不同品种的水稻桶栽试验, 采用内置根架法, 于拔节期和抽穗期取样, 获取根系总干重(TRW)、不定根数(ARN)以及各类根(不定根、细分枝根和粗分枝根)的形态指标(长度、表面积和体积), 并分析植株根系生长状况和根系分布特征。结果显示: (1)各试验条件下抽穗期各项根系指标较拔节期均呈增长趋势。同一时期, 各项根系指标在3个施氮水平间均差异显著, 且随施氮量的增加而增加。不同水分处理下, 两个时期的ARN在湿润灌溉(W2)与保持水层(W1)之间差异均不显著, 而其他指标上W2处理均显著最高; 干旱处理 (W3)下, 仅拔节期的TRW和粗分枝形态指标与W1处理接近, 而在其他指标上均显著最低。不同品种间, ‘扬稻6号’ (V3)的各项根系指标均最高, 而‘日本晴’ (V1)和‘武香粳14’ (V2)间差异不显著。(2)各试验条件下, 抽穗期较拔节期根系下扎生长比例增加, 多分布于表层(0-5 cm)土中; 减少氮素和水分供应可提高根系在5 cm以下土层中的分布比例, 且分枝根反应最为明显; 品种V1和V2的深扎根性较V3明显。结果表明, 合理施氮与控水可优化水稻不同类型根的生长与分布特征, 但需考虑不同品种之间的差异。     

Growth and shoot:root partitioning of spinach plants as affected by nitrogen supply

Spinach plants (Spinacia oleracea L.) were grown hydroponically in fixed environmental conditions either at full nitrate availability (11·8mol m^-3) or at a suboptimum relative nitrate addition rate of 0·20d^-1, 0·15d^-1 or 0·10d^-1 respectively, the other nutrients being adequately provided. The relative growth rate (RGR) of the plants varied significantly with the nutrition treatment and decreased during development in all treatments. The concentration of reduced nitrogen in the plants grown at full nitrate availability did not change significantly during the experimental growth period and nitrate accumulation was substantial. After an adaptation period, the concentration of reduced nitrogen in the plants at the suboptimum nitrate addition rates increased during growth and was lowest at the lowest relative nitrate addition rate. Nitrate uptake was almost complete in the suboptimum treatments and nitrate accumulation was negligible as long as the concentration of reduced nitrogen was below 2·0 mmol (g dry weight)^-1. The RGR of all plants was proportional to the concentration of reduced nitrogen in the plant minus a minimal tissue concentration required for growth. However, the proportionality factor was inversely related to the plant mass. This relationship was summarized in an empirical model which explained 98·7% of the variance of the dry weight (log scale) data of all treatments at all harvests. The model was compared with other growth models found in the literature. The shoot/root weight ratio increased from 2 to 4 if nitrate provision was not limiting, and initially, this ratio decreased at suboptimum nitrate provision but increased at higher growth stages. Possible explanations of the dynamics of dry matter partitioning are discussed in relation to models.     

Nitrogen losses in puddled soils as affected by timing of water deficit and nitrogen fertilization

Erratic rainfall in rainfed lowlands and inadequate water supply in irrigated lowlands can results in alternate soil drying and flooding during a rice (Oryza sativa L.) cropping period. Effects of alternate soil drying and flooding on N loss by nitrification-denitrification have been inconsistent in previous field research. To determine the effects of water deficit and urea timing on soil NO₃ and NH₄, floodwater NO₃, and N loss from added ¹⁵N-labeled urea, a field experiment was conducted for 2 yr on an Andaqueptic Haplaquoll in the Philippines. Water regimes were continuously flooded, not irrigated from 15 to 35 d after transplanting (DT), or not irrigated from 41 to 63 DT. The nitrogen treatments in factorial combination with water regimes were no applied N and 80 kg urea-N ha^–1, either applied half basally and half at 37 DT or half at 11 DT and half at 65 DT. Water deficit at 15 to 35 DT and 41 to 63 DT, compared with continuous soil flooding, significantly reduced extractable NH₄ in the top 30-cm soil layer and resulted in significant but small (<1.0 kg N ha^–1) soil NO₃ accumulations. Soil NO₃, which accumulated during the water deficit, rapidly disappeared after reflooding. Water deficit at 15 to 35 DT, unlike that at 41 to 63 DT, increased the gaseous loss of added urea N as determined from unrecovered ¹⁵N in ¹⁵N balances. The results indicate that application of urea to young rice in saturated or flooded soil results in large, rapid losses of N (mean = 35% of applied N), presumably by NH₃ volatilization. Subsequent soil drying and flooding during the vegetative growth phase can result in additional N loss (mean = 14% of applied N), presumably by nitrification-denitrification. This additional N loss due to soil drying and flooding decreases with increasing crop age, apparently because of increased competition by rice with soil microorganisms for NH₄ and NO₃.     

Stem-growth response of Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies to nitrogen fertilization as related to needle nitrogen concentration

 Responses of stem-volume growth to N application were evaluated in relation to foliar N concentrations. Data from N-fertilization experiments in 28 Pinus sylvestris stands and 21 Picea abies stands were used. Relative stem-growth responses were negatively related to concentrations of N in current-year needles of unfertilized trees. There appeared to be a threshold value of 15–16 mg (g DM)^–1 N in current-year needles, above which N-application is unlikely to stimulate growth. However, relations were non-significant between N concentrations in current-year needles and the absolute stem-growth response [dm³ ha^–1 (5 years)^–1]. The indicated threshold values are discussed in relation to other variables reflecting the N richness of the environment.--> Received: 20 December 1996 / Accepted: 30 September 1997     

Community composition of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and archaea in rice field soil as affected by nitrogen fertilization

Little information is available on the ecology of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA) in flooded rice soils. Consequently, a microcosm experiment was conducted to determine the effect of nitrogen fertilizer on the composition of AOB and AOA communities in rice soil by using molecular analyses of ammonia monooxygenase gene (amoA) fragments. Experimental treatments included three levels of N (urea) fertilizer, i.e. 50, 100 and 150 mg N kg⁻¹ soil. Soil samples were operationally divided into four fractions: surface soil, bulk soil deep layer, rhizosphere and washed root material. NH₄⁺-N was the dominant form of N in soil porewater and increased with N fertilization. Cloning and sequencing of amoA gene fragments showed that the AOB community in the rice soil consisted of three major groups, i.e. Nitrosomonas communis cluster, Nitrosospira cluster 3a and cluster 3b. The sequences related to Nitrosomonas were predominant. There was a clear effect of N fertilizer and soil depth on AOB community composition based on terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism fingerprinting. Nitrosomonas appeared to be more abundant in the potentially oxic or micro-oxic fractions, including surface soil, rhizosphere and washed root material, than the deep layer of anoxic bulk soil. Furthermore, Nitrosomonas increased relatively in the partially oxic fractions and that of Nitrosospira decreased with the increasing application of N fertilizer. However, AOA community composition remained unchanged according to the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analyses.     

Occurrence of perfect and imperfect grains of six japonica rice cultivars as affected by nitrogen fertilization

This study aims to quantify nitrogen (N) effect on occurrence of perfect rice kernel (PRK) and imperfect grains which includes white-belly rice kernel (WBRK), white-core rice kernel (WCRK), green rice kernel (GRK), opaque rice kernel (ORK), and other imperfect grains (OTHERS). Two-year field experiments involving six japonica rice cultivars and seven N treatments were performed. The structural differences between white-belly and white-core tissues were compared using scanning electron microscope. Averaged over cultivars, grain yield increased progressively with N rate. PRK increased with N rate in 2008, but decreased with increased N rate in 2009. WBRK and WCRK decreased as N rate increased for both years. High N input resulted in higher occurrence of GRK and OTHERS for both years. Most starch granules in white-belly tissues are intact and surrounded by globular protein bodies, with many air spaces between them; while in white-core tissues, starch granules are easily broken into many single granules and no protein bodies are visible. Our results suggest that N has suppressing influence on chalky grains but favorable effect on other imperfect grains, and indicate different mechanism between WBRK and WCRK.     

Species-specific response of photosynthesis to burning and nitrogen fertilization

The present study was conducted to examine photosynthetic characteristics of three dominant grass species (Agropyron cristatum, Leymus chinensis, and Cleistogenes squarrosa) and their responses to burning and nitrogen fertilization in a semiarid grassland in northern China. Photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs), and water use efficiency (WUE) showed strong temporal variability over the growing season. C. squarrosa showed a significantly higher Pn and WUE than A. cristatum and L. chinensis. Burning stimulated Pn of A. cristatum and L. chinensis by 24-59% (P＜0.05) in the early growing season, but not during other time periods. Light-saturated photosynthetic rate (φmax) in A. cristatum C. squarrosa. The burning-induced changes in soil moisture could explain 51% (P=0.01) of the burning-induced changes The stimulation of Pn under N fertilization was mainly observed in the early growing season when the soil extractable N content was significantly higher in the fertilized plots. The N fertilization-induced changes in soil extractable N content could explain 66% (P=0.001) of the changes in Pn, under N fertilization. The photosynthetic responses of the three species indicate that burning and N fertilization will potentially change the community structure and ecosystem productivity in the semiarid grasslands of northern China.     

Size and morphology of root systems of perennial grasses from contrasting habitats as affected by nitrogen supply

This paper discusses interspecific differences and phenotypic responses to nitrogen supply in various root parameters of five perennial grasses from contrasting habitats. The following root parameters were studied: root:shoot ratio, specific root length, specific root area, mean root diameter, frequency of fine roots, and the length and density of root hairs. Significant between-species variation was found in all of these features. Species from fertile sites had higher root:shoot ratios at high nitrogen supply than species from infertile habitats. All species growing at low nitrogen supply showed a significant increase in root:shoot ratio. Specific root length, specific root area, mean root diameter and frequency of fine roots were not affected significantly by nitrogen supply. Species from infertile sites responded to low nitrogen supply by a significant increase in root hair length and root hair density.     

Tree size and flowering intensity as affected by nitrogen fertilization in non-bearing orange trees grown under Mediterranean conditions

A field experiment was conducted in the South of Portugal with young (0-3 years old) non-bearing ‘Lane Late’ orange trees. Five nitrogen (N) rates were used in a randomised block design with three replicates. The 180 g N tree⁻¹ over three years led to the greatest canopy width (176 cm) and volume (2,697 dm³). The greatest rate applied (720 g N tree⁻¹ in the three years) led to the largest flower yield. Nitrogen concentration in the flowers significantly increased with fertilizer N, and also with the flowering period up to the 23^rd day, declining thereafter. Flower yield was strongly correlated (r = 0.99, p < 0.001) with flower N concentration. Nutrient composition of flowers and of mature leaves from the spring flush was compared. Significant correlations were found for N (r = 0.47, p <0.01), P (r = -0.49, p <0.01), K (r = 0.44, p <0.05) and Ca (r = 0.87, p <0.001), suggesting that flowers can be used as a tool to diagnose the nutritional status of trees. Canonical analysis (with N treatment as dummy-variables) showed strong relationships between canopy width and N, which were greater at the larger rates of fertilizer application, and strong and inverse relationships between K and Mg, also with the greatest N rates.     

Nitrogen distribution in young Norway spruce (Picea abies) trees as affected by pedospheric nitrogen supply

In numerous locations in Europe spruce trees are exposed to high loads of nitrogen. The present study was performed to characterize the distribution of nitrogen compounds under these conditions. For this purpose Norway spruce ( Picea abies [L.] Karst.) trees were cultivated under close-to-natural conditions of a forest understory in soil from an apparently nitrogen-limited field site in the Black Forest either with, or without supplementation of nitrogen as ammonium nitrate. After 11 and 20 months, growth, total nitrogen contents of the biomass, and total soluble non-proteinogenic nitrogen compounds (TSNN, i.e. nitrate, ammonium, soluble proteinogenic and non-proteinogenic amino compounds) in needles, xylem sap and phloem exudate were analysed. After 20 months of growth, N-fertilization had slightly enhanced the biomass of current-, but not of 1-year-old shoots. At both harvests, total N-content of 1-year-old needles was increased by N-fertilization, whereas current-year needles were not significantly affected. By contrast, TSNN was elevated by N-fertilization in both current-year and 1-year-old needles. The increase in TSNN was mainly attributed to an accumulation of arginine. Xylem sap analysis showed that the increase in TSNN of the needles was a consequence of enhanced nitrogen assimilation of the roots rather than the shoot. Since also TSNN in phloem exudates was enhanced, it appears that N-fertilization elevates the cycling pool of amino compounds in young Norway spruce trees. However, this pool seems to be subject to metabolic interconversion, since mainly glutamine and aspartate are transported in the xylem from the roots to the shoot, but arginine accumulated in the needles and the phloem.     

Maize and pigweed response to nitrogen supply and form

As nitrogen management practices change to achieve economic and environmental goals, effects on weed-crop competition must be examined. Two greenhouse experiments investigated the influence of N amount and form on growth of maize and redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.). In Experiment 1, maize and pigweed were grown together in a replacement series (maize: pigweed ratios of 0:4, 1:3, 2:2, 3:1, 4:0) under three NH₄NO₃-N supplies (0, 110, and 220 mg N kg^-1 soil). Maize was planted into established pigweed and plants were harvested 24 days after maize germination. Pigweed responded more to supplemental N than maize and accumulated 2.5 times as much N in shoots at the high N supply. Competition effects were not significant. Maize and pigweed were grown separately in Experiment 2 and supplied 220 mg N kg^-1 as either Ca(NO₃)₂ or (NH₄)₂SO₄ plus a nitrification inhibitor (enhanced ammonium supply, EAS). In maize, EAS treatment did not affect shoot growth and reduced root growth 25% relative to the NO₃-N treatment. In pigweed, shoot and root growth were restricted 23 and 86% by EAS treatment, respectively. Total plant N accumulation under EAS treatment was higher in maize, less in pigweed. Under EAS treatment, pigweed leaves were crinkled and chlorotic; leaf disks extracted in 70% ethanol, pH 3, contained less malate and oxalate but more NH₄ ⁺ compared to the NO₃-N treatment. Maize leaf disk malate levels were generally higher compared to pigweed but were less due to EAS treatment. Ammonium level in maize leaf disks was unaffected by N form and EAS treatment increased oxalate levels. Final bulk soil pH was generally lower in pots where pigweed were grown and tended to be lower due to EAS. Leaf disk malate levels and soil pH were positively associated. Results indicate that pigweed is more likely to compete with maize when high levels of NO₃-N are provided. Enhancing the proportion of N supplied as NH₄ ⁺ should restrict the growth of NH₄ ⁺-sensitive pigweed.     

Transpiration, and nitrogen uptake and flow in two maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines as affected by nitrogen supply

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The influence of two nitrogen (N) levels on growth, water relations, and N uptake and flow was investigated in two different inbred lines of maize (N-efficient Zi330 and N-inefficient Chen94-11) to analyse the differences in N uptake and cycling within a plant. METHODS: Xylem sap from different leaves of the inbred lines cultured in quartz sand was collected by application of pressure to the root system. Plant transpiration was measured on a daily basis by weighing five pots of each of the treatments. KEY RESULTS: N-efficient Zi330 had a higher relative growth rate and water-use efficiency at both high (4 mm) and low (0.08 mm) N levels. At a high N level, the amount of N taken up was similar for the two inbred lines; the amount of N transported in the xylem and retranslocated in the phloem was slight greater in Chen94-11 than in Zi330. At a low N level, however, the total amount of N taken up, transported in the xylem and retranslocated in the phloem of Zi330 was 2.2, 2.7 and 2.7 times more, respectively, than that of Chen94-11. Independent of inbred line and N level, the amounts of N transported in the xylem and cycled in the phloem were far more than that taken up by roots at the same time. Low N supply shifted NO(3)(-1) reduction towards the roots. The major nitrogenous compound in the xylem sap was NO(3)(-1), when plants grew at the high N level, while amino acid-N was predominant when plants grew at the low N level. CONCLUSIONS: The N-efficient maize inbred line Zi330 had a higher ability to take up N and cycle N within the plant than N-inefficient Chen94-11 when grown under N-deficiency.     

Residual nitrogen pools in mature winter wheat straw as affected by nitrogen application

Plant and Soil - Reduction of the amount of nitrogen (N) remaining in mature wheat straw is an essential challenge in order to boost grain protein and N use efficiency. However, very limited...     

Chlorophyll fluorescence and chlorophyll content in field-grown potato as affected by nitrogen supply, genotype, and plant age

Field experiments were conducted in Sicily (south Italy) to assess chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence parameters in response of potato crop to nitrogen dose, to variation in genotype and in plant age, and to detect relationships between Chl content, fluorescence parameter F_v/F_m, and tuber yield. The experiment included five nitrogen doses (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 g m⁻²) and four genotypes (Spunta, Sieglinde, Daytona, and Igea). Chl fluorescence parameters (initial fluorescence, F₀, maximum fluorescence, F_m, variable fluorescence, F_v, F_v/F_m, T_max (the time required to reach F_m), and Chl content were measured weekly between the appearance of the fifth and sixth leaves and the onset of plant senescence. A positive linear relationship was established between nitrogen supply and Chl content, F₀, and T_max. Nitrogen supply up to 10 g m⁻² also had a positive effect on F_m and F_v, but above this rate it reduced F_v/F_m. Spunta had the highest Chl content, F_m, F_v, and F_v/F_m, but the lowest F₀, whereas Sieglinde had the lowest Chl content, F_v, F_v/F_m, and T_max and the highest F₀. The cvs. Igea and Daytona exhibited intermediate Chl fluorescence parameters. Chl content and T_max decreased with increasing plant age, whereas F₀, F_m, and F_v increased until complete canopy development and thereafter declined until crop maturity. Tuber and plant dry matter yield were significantly correlated with Chl content, F₀, and T_max. Thus Chl fluorescence and content detect differences in the response of potato to N supply, can discriminate between genotypes, predict plant age, and yield performance under field conditions.     

Variation in foliar nitrogen and albedo in response to nitrogen fertilization and elevated CO2

Foliar nitrogen has been shown to be positively correlated with midsummer canopy albedo and canopy near infrared (NIR) reflectance over a broad range of plant functional types (e.g., forests, grasslands, and agricultural lands). To date, the mechanism(s) driving the nitrogen–albedo relationship have not been established, and it is unknown whether factors affecting nitrogen availability will also influence albedo. To address these questions, we examined variation in foliar nitrogen in relation to leaf spectral properties, leaf mass per unit area, and leaf water content for three deciduous species subjected to either nitrogen (Harvard Forest, MA, and Oak Ridge, TN) or CO(2) fertilization (Oak Ridge, TN). At Oak Ridge, we also obtained canopy reflectance data from the airborne visible/infrared imaging spectrometer (AVIRIS) to examine whether canopy-level spectral responses were consistent with leaf-level results. At the leaf level, results showed no differences in reflectance or transmittance between CO(2) or nitrogen treatments, despite significant changes in foliar nitrogen. Contrary to our expectations, there was a significant, but negative, relationship between foliar nitrogen and leaf albedo, a relationship that held for both full spectrum leaf albedo as well as leaf albedo in the NIR region alone. In contrast, remote sensing data indicated an increase in canopy NIR reflectance with nitrogen fertilization. Collectively, these results suggest that altered nitrogen availability can affect canopy albedo, albeit by mechanisms that involve canopy-level processes rather than changes in leaf-level reflectance.