THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ECOLOGY OF A FRESHWATER DINOFLAGELLATE BLOOM POPULATION: VERTICAL MIGRATION,NITROGEN LIMITATION,AND NUTRIENT UPTAKE KINETICS1,2

The motile freshwater dinoflagellate Gymnodinium bogoriense Klebs., which forms dense blooms in Jezre'el Valley water reservoirs (Israel) appears to be physiologically suited to exploit stratified environments, where it outcompetes all other phytoplankton types. The dense summer blooms (“red tides”) were found to be nitrogen-limited. The algae's competitive advantage, however, cannot result from superior uptake capabilities: its K_s (μmol NH₄·L^?1) for NH₄ was higher and its V_maxμmol NH₄·mg chlorophyll a^?1·h^?1) was lower than other phytoplankton types commonly occurring in the region. The competitive advantage of G. bogoriense probably stems from other physiological capabilities: dark ammonia and phosphorus assimilation and the ability to undertake diel vertical migration cycles between the upper photic water layers during the day and nutrient-rich deeper layers at night. These findings confirm the vertical nutrient retrieval hypothesis in migrating phytoplankton.     

Effects of glaciers on nutrient concentrations and phytoplankton in lakes within the Northern Cascades Mountains (USA)

We compared nitrate concentrations, phytoplankton biomass, and phytoplankton community structure in lakes fed by glacier melt and snowmelt (GSF lakes) and by snowmelt only (SF lakes) within North Cascades National Park (NOCA) in Washington State, USA. In the U.S. Rocky Mountains, glacier melting has greatly increased nitrate concentrations in GSF lakes (52–236 µg NO₃–N L^?1) relative to SF lakes (1–14 µg NO₃–N L^?1) and thereby stimulated phytoplankton changes in GSF lakes. Considering NOCA contains approximately one-third of the glaciers in the continental U.S., and many mountain lakes that receive glacier meltwater inputs, we hypothesized that NOCA GSF lakes would have greater nitrate concentrations, greater phytoplankton biomass, and greater abundance of nitrogen-sensitive diatom species than NOCA SF lakes. However, at NOCA nitrate concentrations were much lower and differences between lake types were small compared to the Rockies. At NOCA, nitrate concentrations averaged 13 and 5 µg NO₃–N L^?1 in GSF and SF lakes, respectively, and a nitrate difference was not detectable in several individual years. There also was no difference in phytoplankton biomass or abundance of nitrogen-sensitive diatoms between lake types at NOCA. In contrast to the Rockies, there also was not a significant positive relationship between watershed percent glacier area and lake nitrate at NOCA. Results demonstrate that biogeochemical responses to global change in Western U.S. mountain lake watersheds may vary regionally. Regional differences may be affected by differing nitrogen deposition, climate, geology, or microbial processes within glacier environments, and merit further investigation.     

The effect of nutrient concentrations,nutrient ratios and temperature on photosynthesis and nutrient uptake by Ulva prolifera: implications for the explosion in green tides

The green-tide macroalga, Ulva prolifera, was tested in the laboratory to determine its nutrient uptake and photosynthesis under different conditions. In the nutrient concentration experiments U. prolifera showed a saturated uptake for nitrate but an escalating uptake in the tested range for phosphorus. Both N/P and NO₃ ^?/NH₄ ⁺ ratios influenced nutrient uptake significantly (p?<?0.05) while the PSII quantum yield [Y(II)] (p?>?0.05) remained unaffected. The maximum N uptake rate (33.9?±?0.8 μmol g^?1 DW h^?1) and P uptake rate (11.1?±?4.7) was detected at N/P ratios of 7.5 and 2.2, respectively. U. prolifera preferred NH₄ ⁺-N to NO₃ ^?-N when the NO₃ ^?-N/NH₄ ⁺-N ratio was less than 2.2 (p?<?0.05). But between ratios of 2.2 and 12.9, the uptake of NO₃ ^?-N surpassed that of NH₄ ⁺-N. In the temperature experiments, the highest N uptake rate and [Y(II)] were observed at 20 °C, while the lowest rates were detected at 5 °C. P uptake rates were correlated with increasing temperature.     

The paths of Andrew A. Benson: a radio-autobiography

Among marine phytoplankton groups, diatoms span the widest range of cell size, with resulting effects upon their nitrogen uptake, photosynthesis and growth responses to light. We grew two strains of marine centric diatoms differing by ~4 orders of magnitude in cell biovolume in high (enriched artificial seawater with ~500 µmol L^?1 µmol L^?1 NO₃ ^?) and lower-nitrogen (enriched artificial seawater with <10 µmol L^?1 NO₃ ^?) media, across a range of growth light levels. Nitrogen and total protein per cell decreased with increasing growth light in both species when grown under the lower-nitrogen media. Cells growing under lower-nitrogen media increased their cellular allocation to RUBISCO and their rate of electron transport away from PSII, for the smaller diatom under low growth light and for the larger diatom across the range of growth lights. The smaller coastal diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana is able to exploit high nitrogen in growth media by up-regulating growth rate, but the same high-nitrogen growth media inhibits growth of the larger diatom species.     

Nitrate nutrition enhances zinc hyperaccumulation in Noccaea caerulescens (Prayon)

Nitrate fertilization has been shown to increase Zn hyperaccumulation by Noccaea caerulescens (Prayon) (formerly Thlaspi caerulescens). However, it is unknown whether this increased hyperaccumulation is a direct result of NO₃ ^? nutrition or due to changes in rhizosphere pH as a result of NO₃ ^? uptake. This paper investigated the mechanism of NO₃ ^?-enhanced Zn hyperaccumulation in N. caerulescens by assessing the response of Zn uptake to N form and solution pH. Plants were grown in nutrient solution with 300 μM Zn and supplied with either (NH₄)₂SO₄, NH₄NO₃ or Ca(NO₃)₂. The solutions were buffered at either pH 4.5 or 6.5. The Zn concentration and content were much higher in shoots of NO₃ ^?-fed plants than in NH₄ ⁺-fed plants at pH 4.5 and 6.5. The Zn concentration in the shoots was mainly enhanced by NO₃ ^?, whereas the Zn concentration in the roots was mainly enhanced by pH 6.5. Nitrate increased Zn uptake in the roots at pH 6.5 and increased apoplastic Zn at pH 4.5. Zinc and Ca co-increased and was found co-localized in leaf cells of NO₃ ^?-fed plants. We conclude that NO₃ ^? directly enhanced Zn uptake and translocation from roots to shoots in N. caerulescens.     

Biogeochemical regime shifts in coastal landscapes: the contrasting effects of saltwater incursion and agricultural pollution on greenhouse gas emissions from a freshwater wetland

Many coastal plain wetlands receive nutrient pollution from agricultural fields and are particularly vulnerable to saltwater incursion. Although wetlands are a major source of the greenhouse gases methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O), the consequences of salinization for greenhouse gas emissions from wetlands with high agricultural pollution loads is rarely considered. Here, we asked how saltwater exposure alters greenhouse gas emissions from a restored freshwater wetland that receives nutrient loading from upstream farms. During March to November 2012, we measured greenhouse gases along a ~2 km inundated portion of the wetland. Sampling locations spanned a wide chemical gradient from sites receiving seasonal fertilizer nitrogen and sulfate (SO₄ ^2?) loads to sites receiving seasonal increases in marine salts. Concentrations and fluxes of CH₄ were low (<100 µg L^?1 and <10 mg m^?2 h^?1) for all sites and sampling dates when SO₄ ^2? was high (>10 mg L^?1), regardless of whether the SO₄ ^2? source was agriculture or saltwater. Elevated CH₄ (as high as 1,500 µg L^?1 and 45 mg m^?2 h^?1) was only observed on dates when air temperatures were >27 °C and SO₄ ^2? was <10 mg L^?1. Despite elevated ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) for saltwater exposed sites, concentrations of N₂O remained low (<5 µg L^?1 and <10 µg m^?2 h^?1), except when fertilizer derived nitrate (NO₃ ^?) concentrations were high and N₂O increased as high as 156 µg L^?1. Our results suggest that although both saltwater and agriculture derived SO₄ ^2? may suppress CH₄, increases in N₂O associated with fertilizer derived NO₃ ^? may offset that reduction in wetlands exposed to both agricultural runoff and saltwater incursion.     

Wildfire Effects on Soil Gross Nitrogen Transformation Rates in Coniferous Forests of Central Idaho, USA

Forest fires often result in a series of biogeochemical processes that increase soil nitrate (NO₃ ^?) concentrations for several years; however, the dynamic nature of inorganic nitrogen (N) cycling in the plant–microbe–soil complex makes it challenging to determine the direct causes of increased soil NO₃ ^?. We measured gross inorganic N transformation rates in mineral soils 2 years after wildfires in three central Idaho coniferous forests to determine the causes of the elevated soil NO₃ ^?. We also measured key factors that could affect the soil N processes, including temperature during soil incubation in situ, soil water content, pH and carbon (C) availability. We found no significant differences (P = 0.461) in gross nitrification rates between burned and control soils. However, microbial NO₃ ^? uptake rates were significantly lower (P = 0.078) in burned than control soils. The reduced consumption of NO₃ ^? caused slightly elevated NO₃ ^? concentrations in the burned soils. C availability was positively correlated with microbial NO₃ ^? uptake rates. Despite reduced microbial NO₃ ^? uptake capacity in the burned soils, soil microbes were a strong enough N sink to maintain low soil NO₃ ^? concentrations 2 years post fire. Soil NH₄ ⁺ concentrations between the treatments were not significantly different (P = 0.673). However, gross NH₄ ⁺ production and microbial uptake rates in burned soils were significantly lower (P = 0.028 and 0.035, respectively) than in the controls, and these rates were positively correlated with C availability. Our results imply that C availability is an important factor regulating soil N cycling of coniferous forests in the region.     

Effect of NO<Subscript>3</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript>:NH<Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript> ratios on growth,root morphology and leaf metabolism of oilseed rape (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> L.) seedlings

The effect of NO₃ ^?:NH₄ ⁺ ratio (14:1, 9:6, 7.5:7.5, 1:14, total 15 mmol/L N) in the nutrient solution on biomass, root morphology, and C and N metabolism parameter in hydroponically grown oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) was evaluated. The dry weights of leaves and roots were significantly largest at the equal NO₃ ^?:NH₄ ⁺ ratio (7.5:7.5) compared with those of high NO₃ ^?:NH₄ ⁺ ratio (14:1) or low NO₃ ^?:NH₄ ⁺ ratio (1:14). Additionally, low NO₃ ^?:NH₄ ⁺ ratio (1:14) reduced total root length and root surface area compared with the equal NO₃ ^?:NH₄ ⁺ ratio (7.5:7.5), while high NO₃ ^?:NH₄ ⁺ ratio (14:1) did not show any significant effect on root morphology except average diameter. The maximum of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid were obtained under 7.5:7.5 treatment, whereas the maximum of the leaf net photosynthetic (P _n), stomatal conductance (G _s) and transpiration rate (T _r) were increased with increase in NH₄ ⁺ concentration in the nutrient solution. The activity of nitrate reductase (NR) showed a significant difference at different NO₃ ^?:NH₄ ⁺ ratios and ranged 9:6 > 7.5:7.5 > 14:1 > 1:14, whereas the range of soluble sugar and soluble protein was 7.5:7.5 > 1:14 > 9:6 > 14:1. Our study reveals that oilseed rape growth is greater under 7.5:7.5 treatment than that under three other treatments. Oilseed rape growth at high or low NO₃ ^?:NH₄ ⁺ ratios was inhibited by decreased pigments, NR activity, soluble sugar, and soluble protein, whereas subdued root growth should be apprehended considerate under high NH₄ ⁺ condition.     

Nitrogen Utilization and Toxin Production by Two Diatoms of the Pseudo‐nitzschia pseudodelicatissima Complex: P. cuspidata and P. fryxelliana

The toxigenic diatom Pseudo‐nitzschia cuspidata, isolated from the U.S. Pacific Northwest, was examined in unialgal batch cultures to evaluate domoic acid (DA) toxicity and growth as a function of light, N substrate, and growth phase. Experiments conducted at saturating (120 μmol photons · m^?2 · s^?1) and subsaturating (40 μmol photons · m^?2 · s^?1) photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), demonstrate that P. cuspidata grows significantly faster at the higher PPFD on all three N substrates tested [nitrate (NO₃^?), ammonium (NH₄⁺), and urea], but neither cellular toxicity nor exponential growth rates were strongly associated with one N source over the other at high PPFD. However, at the lower PPFD, the exponential growth rates were approximately halved, and the cells were significantly more toxic regardless of N substrate. Urea supported significantly faster growth rates, and cellular toxicity varied as a function of N substrate with NO₃^?‐supported cells being significantly more toxic than both NH₄⁺‐ and urea‐supported cells at the low PPFD. Kinetic uptake parameters were determined for another member of the P. pseudodelicatissima complex, P. fryxelliana. After growth of these cells on NO₃^? they exhibited maximum specific uptake rates (V_max) of 22.7, 29.9, 8.98 × 10^?3 · h^?1, half‐saturation constants (K_s) of 1.34, 2.14, 0.28 μg‐at N · L^?1, and affinity values (α) of 17.0, 14.7, 32.5 × 10^?3 · h^?1/(μg‐at N · L^?1) for NO₃^?, NH₄⁺ and urea, respectively. These labo‐ratory results demonstrate the capability of P. cuspidata to grow and produce DA on both oxidized and reduced N substrates during both exponential and stationary growth phases, and the uptake kinetic results for the pseudo‐cryptic species, P. fryxelliana suggest that reduced N sources from coastal runoff could be important for maintenance of these small pennate diatoms in U.S. west coast blooms, especially during times of low ambient N concentrations.     

Feasibility of Typha Latifolia for High Salinity Effluent Treatment in Constructed Wetlands for Integration in Resource Management Systems

High salinity wastewaters have limited treatment options due to the occurrence of salt inhibition in conventional biological treatments. Using recirculating marine aquaculture effluents as a case study, this work explored the use of Constructed Wetlands as a treatment option for nutrient and salt loads reduction. Three different substrates were tested for nutrient adsorption, of which expanded clay performed better. This substrate adsorbed 0.31 mg kg^?1 of NH₄ ⁺?N and 5.60 mg kg^?1 of PO₄ ^3??P and 6.9 mg kg^?1 dissolved salts after 7 days of contact. Microcosms with Typha latifolia planted in expanded clay and irrigated with aquaculture wastewater (salinity 2.4%, 7 days hydraulic retention time, for 4 weeks), were able to remove 94% NH₄ ⁺?N (inlet 0.25 ± 0.13 mg L^?1), 78% NO₂ ^??N (inlet 0.78 ± 0.62 mg L^?1), 46% NO₃ ^??N (inlet 18.83 ± 8.93 mg L^?1) whereas PO₄ ^3??P was not detected (inlet 1.41 ± 0.21 mg L^?1). Maximum salinity reductions of 52% were observed. Despite some growth inhibition, plants remained viable, with 94% survival rate. Daily treatment dynamics studies revealed rapid PO₄ ^3??P adsorption, unbalancing the N:P ratio and possibly affecting plant development. An integrated treatment approach, coupled with biomass valorization, is suggested to provide optimal resource management possibilities.     

THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF WATER MOTION ON NITROGEN UPTAKE BY THE SUBTIDAL MACROALGA ADAMSIELLA CHAUVINII (RHODOPHYTA) IN WINTER AND SUMMER1

The influence of seawater velocity (1.5–12 cm · s^?1) on inorganic nitrogen (N) uptake by the soft‐sediment perennial macroalga Adamsiella chauvinii (Harv.) L. E. Phillips et W. A. Nelson (Rhodophyta) was determined seasonally by measuring uptake rate in a laboratory flume. Regardless of N tissue content, water velocity had no influence on NO₃^? uptake in either winter or summer, indicating that NO₃^?‐uptake rate was biologically limited. However, when thalli were N limited, increasing water velocity increased NH₄⁺ uptake, suggesting that mass‐transfer limitation of NH₄⁺ is likely during summer for natural populations. Uptake kinetics (V_max, K_s) were similar among three populations of A. chauvinii at sites with different mean flow speeds; however, uptake rates of NO₃^? and NH₄⁺ were lower in summer (when N status was generally low) than in winter. Our results highlight how N uptake can be affected by seasonal changes in the physiology of a macroalga and that further investigation of N uptake of different macroalgae (red, brown, and green) during different seasons is important in determining the relative influence of water velocity on nutrient uptake.     

Long-term nutrient trends and harmful cyanobacterial bloom potential in hypertrophic Lake Taihu,China

Rapid economic development in China’s Lake Taihu basin during the past four decades has accelerated nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loadings to the lake. This has caused a shift from mesotrophic to hypertrophic conditions, symptomized by harmful cyanobacterial blooms (CyanoHABs). The relationships between phytoplankton biomass as chlorophyll a (Chla) and nutrients as total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were analyzed using historical data from 1992 to 2012 to link the response of CyanoHAB potential to long-term nutrient changes. Over the twenty year study period, annual mean Chla showed significantly positive correlations with both annual mean TN and TP (P < 0.001), reflecting a strong phytoplankton biomass response to changes in nutrient inputs to the lake. However, phytoplankton biomass responded slowly to annual changes in TN after 2002. There was not a well-defined or significant relationship between spring TN and summertime Chla. The loss of a significant fraction of spring N loading due to denitrification likely weakened this relationship. Bioavailability of both N and P during the summer plays a key role in sustaining cyanobacterial blooms. The frequency of occurrence of bloom level Chla (>20 μg L^?1) was compared to TN and TP to determine nutrient-bloom thresholds. A decline in bloom risk is expected if TN remains below 1.0 mg L^?1 and TP below 0.08 mg L^?1.     

Effect of two nutrient solution temperatures on nitrate uptake,nitrate reductase activity,NH4+ concentration and chlorophyll a fluorescence in rose plants

The effect of two nutrient solution temperatures (cold (10 °C) and warm (22 °C)) during two flowering events of rose plants (Rosa × hybrida cv. Grand Gala) were examined by measuring chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence, ammonium (NH₄⁺) content and nitrate reductase (NR) activity in four different leaf types, that is, external and internal leaves of bent shoots and lower and upper leaves of flowering stems. Besides, nitrate (NO₃^?) uptake and water absorption, total nitrogen (N) concentration in the plant, dry biomass, and the ratios of shoot/root and thin-white roots/suberized-brown roots were determined. Generally, cold solution increased NO₃^? uptake and thin-white roots production but decreased water uptake, so plants grown at cold solution had to improve their NO₃^? uptake mechanisms to obtain a higher amount of nutrient with less water absorption than plants grown at warm solution. The higher NO₃^? uptake can be related to an increase in NR activity, NH₄⁺ content and total N concentration at cold solution. Nutrient solution temperature also had an effect on the photosynthetic apparatus. In general terms, the effective quantum yield (?_PSII) and the fraction of open PSII reaction centres (q_L) were higher in rose plants grown at cold solution. These effects can be associated to a higher NO₃^? uptake and total N concentration in the plants and were modulated by irradiance throughout all the experiment. Plants could adapt to cold solution by enhancing their metabolism without a decrease in total dry biomass. Nevertheless, the effect of nutrient solution temperature is not simple and also affected by climatic factors.     

Variation in growth rate,carbon assimilation,and photosynthetic efficiency in response to nitrogen source and concentration in phytoplankton isolated from upper San Francisco Bay

Six species of phytoplankton recently isolated from upper San Francisco Bay were tested for their sensitivity to growth inhibition by ammonium (NH₄⁺), and for differences in growth rates according to inorganic nitrogen (N) growth source. The quantum yield of photosystem II (F_v/F_m) was a sensitive indicator of NH₄⁺ toxicity, manifested by a suppression of F_v/F_m in a dose‐dependent manner. Two chlorophytes were the least sensitive to NH₄⁺ inhibition, at concentrations of >3,000 μmoles NH₄⁺ · L^?1, followed by two estuarine diatoms that were sensitive at concentrations >1,000 μmoles NH₄⁺ · L^?1, followed lastly by two freshwater diatoms that were sensitive at concentrations between 200 and 500 μmoles NH₄⁺ · L^?1. At non‐inhibiting concentrations of NH₄⁺, the freshwater diatom species grew fastest, followed by the estuarine diatoms, while the chlorophytes grew slowest. Variations in growth rates with N source did not follow taxonomic divisions. Of the two chlorophytes, one grew significantly faster on nitrate (NO₃^?), whereas the other grew significantly faster on NH₄⁺. All four diatoms tested grew faster on NH₄⁺ compared with NO₃^?. We showed that in cases where growth rates were faster on NH₄⁺ than they were on NO₃^?, the difference was not larger for chlorophytes compared with diatoms. This holds true for comparisons across a number of culture investigations suggesting that diatoms as a group will not be at a competitive disadvantage under natural conditions when NH₄⁺ dominates the total N pool and they will also not have a growth advantage when NO₃^? is dominant, as long as N concentrations are sufficient.     

Inorganic nitrogen uptake kinetics of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) varieties under in vitro conditions with varying N supply

An in vitro system was established for the characterisation of inorganic nitrogen uptake by sugarcane plantlets of variety NCo376. After multiplication and rooting, plantlets (0.27–0.3 g fresh mass) were placed on N-free medium for 4 days, and then supplied with 2–20 mM N as NO₃ ^?-N only, NH₄ ⁺-N only or NO₃ ^?-N + NH₄ ⁺-N (as 1:1). With few exceptions, on all the tested N media, the in vitro plants always had a higher V_max for NH₄ ⁺-N (28.69–66.51 μmol g^?1 h^?1) than for NO₃ ^?-N uptake (10.24–30.19 μmol g^?1 h^?1) and the K_m indicated a higher affinity for NO₃ ^?-N (0.02–7.38 mM) than for NH₄ ⁺-N (0.06–9.15 mM). When N was applied as 4 and 20 mM to varieties N12, N19 and N36, the interaction between variety, N form and concentration resulted in differences in the V_max and K_m. The high N-use efficient varieties (N12 and N19), as determined in previous pot and field trials, behaved similarly under all tested conditions and displayed a lower V_max and K_m than the low N-use efficient ones (NCo376 and N36). Based on this finding, it was suggested that the N-use efficient designation (from pot and field trials) may not be ascribed solely to N uptake. Assessment of the relative preference index (RPI) for NO₃ ^?-N and NH₄ ⁺-N uptake revealed that, at present, the RPI has no application in sugarcane due to its preferential uptake of NH₄ ⁺-N.     

How do chronic nutrient loading and the duration of nutrient pulses affect nutrient uptake in headwater streams?

Our study aimed to analyze the effects of chronic nutrient loading on the capacity of headwater streams to retain phosphorus and ammonium pulses of different duration. For this purpose, we selected nine headwater streams located across a gradient of increasing agricultural land use and eutrophication. In each stream, we performed sequential plateau additions with increasing nutrient concentrations in summer 2015 and instantaneous slug additions in summer 2016 under similar hydrological conditions. We modelled kinetic uptake curves from the slug additions via the Tracer Additions for Spiraling Curve Characterization method and calculated ambient uptake parameters. Ambient uptake rates generally increased (1.4–20.8 µg m^?2 s^?1 for NH₄–N and 0.3–10.3 µg m^?2 s^?1 for SRP, respectively), while ambient uptake velocities decreased from oligotrophic to polytrophic streams (1.8–14.0 mm min^?1 for NH₄–N and 1.6–9.9 mm min^?1 for SRP, respectively). However, correlations between ambient uptake parameters and background concentrations were weak. Concentration-dependent uptake rates followed either a linear or a Michaelis–Menten saturation model, regardless of the degree of nutrient loading. Uptake rate curves showed counter-clockwise hysteresis in oligotrophic streams and clockwise hysteresis in streams of higher trophic states, indicating a reduced significance of hyporheic uptake with increasing nutrient loading. Comparisons of slug and plateau additions revealed that oligotrophic streams were most efficient in uptake during short nutrient pulses, while eutrophic streams profited from longer pulse duration. The results indicate that nutrient uptake is increasingly transport-controlled in polluted streams where increased biofilm thickness and clogging of sediments restrict nutrient transport to reactive sites.     

Short-Term Response of Switchgrass to Nitrogen,Phosphorus, and Potassium on Semiarid Sandy Wasteland Managed for Biofuel Feedstock

It is important to understand switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) productivity with relation to diverse nutrient deficiency conditions in order to optimize continuous biomass production in marginal lands. This study was conducted on a wasteland sandy soil (Aridosol) to assess biomass yield, nutrient uptake and nitrogen (N) recovery of switchgrass, and soil nitrate-N (NO₃^?-N) accumulation responses to N (120 kg N ha^?1), phosphorus (P, 100 kg P₂O₅ ha^?1), and potassium (K, 45 kg K₂O ha^?1) applications during 2015 and 2016 in Inner Mongolia, China. The experiment layout was a randomized complete block design with fertilizer mixture treatments of N, P, and K (NPK), P and K (PK), N and K (NK), N and P (NP), and a control with no fertilizer input (CK). Plant height and stem diameter remained unaffected by the different fertilizer treatments. Biomass yield with the NPK treatment in 2015 was 8.9 Mg ha^?1 and in 2016 it was 7.3 Mg ha^?1. In 2015, compared with the NPK treatment, a significant yield reduction of 33.7% was found with PK, 22.5% with NK, 28.1% with NP, and 40.5% with CK; however, in 2016, yield declined significantly only with CK compared to the rest of the fertilizer treatments, for which yields were statistically similar. Plant N content was reduced for the treatment PK (i.e. N omission); conversely, plant P and K content remained unaffected with P and K omission treatments. Plant nutrient uptake, particularly of N and K, was severely decreased by the nutrient omission treatments when averaged across 2 years. Apparent N recovery (ANR; quantity of N uptake per unit of N applied) was reduced for the NP and NK treatments, which led to an increase in soil NO₃^?-N accumulation in the top 0–20 cm layer, compared with the NPK treatment. However, ANR was the highest (37.2% in 2015) with the NPK treatment, which also reduced soil NO₃^?-N accumulation. A balanced N, P, and K fertilizer management approach is suggested to sustain switchgrass yield and stand persistence on semiarid, marginal, sandy wasteland.     

Seasonal and geomorphic controls on N and P removal in riparian zones of the US Midwest

Riparian zones are an important strategy to mitigate N and P export to streams. However, their efficiency with respect to nitrate (NO₃ ^?), ammonium (NH₄ ⁺), or soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) in groundwater remains uncertain in the US Midwest. This study investigates water table fluctuations and NO₃ ^?, NH₄ ⁺, and SRP concentration dynamics in two riparian zone types (outwash vs. glacial till) common in the upper US Midwest. During low water table periods, NO₃ ^? removal was 93 % at WR (outwash site), and 75 % at LWD (glacial till site); but during high water table periods, NO₃ ^? removal efficiencies dropped to 50 % at WR, and 14 % at LWD. Median seasonal mass fluxes of NO₃ ^? removed at WR (9.4–21.7 mg N day^?1 m^?1 of stream length) and LWD (0.4–1.9 mg N day^?1 m^?1) were small compared to other riparian zones in glaciated landscapes. The WR site was a small SRP sink (0.114 and 0.118 mg day^?1 m^?1 during the dry period and wet period, respectively), while LWD acted as a small SRP source to the stream (0.004 mg day^?1 m^?1 during the dry period; 0.075 mg day^?1 m^?1 during the wet period). Both LWD and WR acted as sources of NH₄ ⁺ to the stream with mass fluxes ranging from 0.17 to 7.75 mg N day^?1 m^?1. Although riparian zones in the US Midwest provide many ecosystem services, results suggest they are unlikely to efficiently mitigate N and P pollution in subsurface flow.     

Interaction between atmospheric and pedospheric nitrogen nutrition in spruce (Picea abies L. Karst) seedlings

The effect of NO₂ fumigation on root N uptake and metabolism was investigated in 3-month-old spruce (Picea abics L. Karst) seedlings. In a first experiment, the contribution of NO₂ to the plant N budget was measured during a 48 h fumigation with 100mm³m^?3 NO₂. Plants were pre-treated with various nutrient solutions containing NO₂ and NH₄⁺, NO₃^? only or no nitrogen source for 1 week prior to the beginning of fumigation. Absence of NH₄⁺ in the solution for 6d led to an increased capacity for NO₃^? uptake, whereas the absence of both ions caused a decrease in the plant N concentration, with no change in NO₃^? uptake. In fumigated plants, NO₂ uptake accounted for 20–40% of NO₃^? uptake. Root NO₃^? uptake in plants supplied with NH₄⁺plus NO₃^? solutions was decreased by NO₂ fumigation, whereas it was not significantly altered in the other treatments. In a second experiment, spruce seedlings were grown on a solution containing both NO₂ and NH₄⁺ and were fumigated or not with 100mm³m^?3 NO₂ for 7 weeks. Fumigated plants accumulated less dry matter, especially in the roots. Fluxes of the two N species were estimated from their accumulations in shoots and roots, xylem exudate analysis and ¹⁵N labelling. Root NH₄⁺ uptake was approximately three times higher than NO₃^? uptake. Nitrogen dioxide uptake represented 10–15% of the total N budget of the plants. In control plants, N assimilation occurred mainly in the roots and organic nitrogen was the main form of N transported to the shoot. Phloem transport of organic nitrogen accounted for 17% of its xylem transport. In fumigated plants, neither NO₃^? nor NH₄⁺ accumulated in the shoot, showing that all the absorbed NO₂ was assimilated. Root NO₃^? reduction was reduced whereas organic nitrogen transport in the phloem increased by a factor of 3 in NO₂-fimugated as compared with control plants. The significance of the results for the regulation of whole-plant N utilization is discussed.     

Net fluxes of ammonium and nitrate in association with H+ fluxes in fine roots of Populus popularis

Poplar plants are cultivated as woody crops, which are often fertilized by addition of ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) and/or nitrate (NO₃ ^?) to improve yields. However, little is known about net NH₄ ⁺/NO₃ ^? fluxes and their relation with H⁺ fluxes in poplar roots. In this study, net NH₄ ⁺/NO₃ ^? fluxes in association with H⁺ fluxes were measured non-invasively using scanning ion-selective electrode technique in fine roots of Populus popularis. Spatial variability of NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ^? fluxes was found along root tips of P. popularis. The maximal net uptake of NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ^? occurred, respectively, at 10 and 15 mm from poplar root tips. Net NH₄ ⁺ uptake was induced by ca. 48 % with provision of NO₃ ^? together, but net NO₃ ^? uptake was inhibited by ca. 39 % with the presence of NH₄ ⁺ in poplar roots. Furthermore, inactivation of plasma membrane (PM) H⁺-ATPases by orthovanadate markedly inhibited net NH₄ ⁺/NO₃ ^? uptake and even led to net NH₄ ⁺ release with NO₃ ^? co-provision. Linear correlations were observed between net NH₄ ⁺/NO₃ ^? and H⁺ fluxes in poplar roots except that no correlation was found between net NH₄ ⁺ and H⁺ fluxes in roots exposed to NH₄Cl and 0 mM vanadate. These results indicate that root tips play a key role in NH₄ ⁺/NO₃ ^? uptake and that net NH₄ ⁺/NO₃ ^? fluxes and the interaction of net fluxes of both ions are tightly associated with H⁺ fluxes in poplar roots.