Leaf urea metabolism in potato. Urease activity profile and patterns of recovery and distribution of (15)N after foliar urea application in wild-type and urease-antisense transgenics

The influence of urease activity on N distribution and losses after foliar urea application was investigated using wild-type and transgenic potato (Solanum tuberosum cv Désirée) plants in which urease activity was down-regulated. A good correlation between urease activity and (15)N urea metabolism (NH(3) accumulation) was found. The general accumulation of ammonium in leaves treated with urea indicated that urease activity is not rate limiting, at least initially, for the assimilation of urea N by the plant. It is surprising that there was no effect of urease activity on either N losses or (15)N distribution in the plants after foliar urea application. Experiments with wild-type plants in the field using foliar-applied (15)N urea demonstrated an initial rapid export of N from urea-treated leaves to the tubers within 48 h, followed by a more gradual redistribution during the subsequent days. Only 10% to 18% of urea N applied was lost (presumably because of NH(3) volatilization) in contrast to far greater losses reported in several other studies. The pattern of urease activity in the canopy was investigated during plant development. The activity per unit protein increased up to 10-fold with leaf and plant age, suggesting a correlation with increased N recycling in senescing tissues. Whereas several reports have claimed that plant urease is inducible by urea, no evidence for urease induction could be found in potato.     

Effect of trickle fertigation with three forms of nitrogen on soil pH,levels of extractable nutrients below the emitter and plant growth

The effects of application of nitrogen as calcium nitrate, urea or ammonium sulphate at two rates through the trickle irrigation system on pH and nutrient status of the wetted volume of soil below the emitters and on growth and nutrition of courgette (zucchini) plants (Cucurbita pepo L.) was investigated. Soil acidification, caused by nitrification, occurred to a large extent in the volume of soil immediately below the emitters in the urea and ammonium sulphate treatments. Acidification was greater at the high rate of N addition and more pronounced with ammonium sulphate than urea. A significant amount of applied urea appeared to move through the soil as urea and consequently, at the same rate of N addition, levels of ammonium were lower directly below the emitter and those of nitrate were higher further away from the emitters for the urea than ammonium sulphate treatments. Soil acidification below the emitters resulted in significant decreases in levels of exchangeable Ca, Mg and K and increases in levels of exchangeable Al, EDTA-extractable Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu and bicarbonate-extractable P. Vegetative growth and harvestable yields of courgettes were increased by both irrigation and nitrogen applications. Vegetative growth was generally greater at the low rate of N addition than at the high one and generally followed the order calcium nitrate > urea > ammonium sulphate. However, fruit yields followed the order urea > ammonium sulphate > calcium nitrate and were larger at the high rate of N for urea and ammonium sulphate treatments and unaffected by rate for the calcium nitrate treatments. It is suggested that with fertigation, the form of applied N can have significant physiological effects of plant growth and yields because N may be applied into the root zone on numerous occasions during the growing season.     

深松与包膜尿素对玉米田土壤氮素转化及利用的影响

耕作方式和氮肥施用是影响土壤中氮肥转化、利用效率和作物产量的重要因素。通过夏玉米田的2a(2011—2012)定位试验,研究了两种耕作方式(深松、旋耕)配合不同尿素类型(包膜尿素、普通尿素)的施用对玉米田土壤硝态氮和铵态氮含量、脲酶活性、硝化细菌和反硝化细菌数量、玉米产量以及氮肥农学效率的影响。研究结果表明:相同耕作方式下,包膜尿素处理土壤中脲酶活性较稳定,且增加了旱田土壤亚硝酸细菌数量而降低了反硝化细菌数量,有利于土壤硝态氮含量的提高,尤其是作物生长的中后期;包膜尿素处理的产量比普通尿素提高7.25%—10.82%,同时提高氮肥农学效率。深松处理增加了土壤中的反硝化细菌数量,配合施用包膜尿素进一步提高了土壤脲酶活性,增加了亚硝酸细菌数量;旋耕与包膜尿素配合施用在一段时期内能显著增加土壤硝态氮含量,减少反硝化细菌数量。深松配合包膜尿素处理能够显著的增加玉米产量,2a分别比旋耕配合包膜尿素增加1.41%和10.62%。因此,深松措施配合施用包膜尿素能够增强土壤脲酶活性,增加亚硝酸细菌数量,提高氮素转化速率,增加作物产量和氮肥农学效率,其稳产效果在干旱年份尤为显著。     

Nitrogen nutrition of ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Summary Two fertilizer experiments were conducted in the field at Beerwah, South-East Queensland. In the first experiment leaf nitrogen concentrations, and the yield of ginger shoots and rhizomes at early and late harvests increased both with the total amount of nitrogen applied up to the highest level studied (336 kg N/ha as ammonium nitrate) and with the number of applications making up the total. At all levels of nitrogen application the apparent recovery of fertilizer nitrogen increased in the order 1 application <2 applications <4 applications. At 33.6 kg N/ha there appeared to be no advantage in dividing the total N applied into more than 4 applications but the data suggested higher recoveries of nitrogen with 8 applications at 112 kg N/ha and 336 kg N/ha. In the second experiment, ammonium nitrate, urea, and ammonium sulphate were found to be equally effective as nitrogen fertilizers for ginger when applied at equal rates of nitrogen per hectare. However, in terms of cost effectiveness they rated in the order urea > ammonium nitrate > ammonium sulphate.All three nitrogen sources acidified the soil, the decrease in soil pH during the growing season increasing with increasing rate of application. In Experiment 1 split applications, which increased the recovery of applied nitrogen in the crop, also increased the extent of acidification. In Experiment 2 ammonium sulphate tended to be more strongly acidifying than the other fertilizers but the difference was statistically significant only at the highest rate of nitrogen application. Because of the strong effects of nitrogen supply on both yield and soil pH, the highest yields were associated with end-of-season pH values below 5.0.     

Response of potato grown under non-inductive condition paclobutrazol: shoot growth, chlorophyll content, net photosynthesis, assimilate partitioning, tuber yield, quality, and dormancy

The effect of foliar and soil applied paclobutrazol on potato were examined under non-inductive condition in a greenhouse. Single stemmed plants of the cultivar BP1 were grown at 35(±2)/20(±2) °C day/night temperatures, relative humidity of 58%, and a 16 h photoperiod. Twenty-eight days after transplanting paclobutrazol was applied as a foliar spray or soil drench at rates of 0, 45.0, 67.5, and 90.0 mg active ingredient paclobutrazol per plant. Regardless of the method of application paclobutrazol increased chlorophyll a and b contents of the leaf tissue, delayed physiological maturity, and increased tuber fresh mass, dry matter content, specific gravity, dormancy period of the tubers. Paclobutrazol reduced the number of tubers per plant. A significant interaction between rates and methods of paclobutrazol application were observed with respect to plant height and tuber crude protein content. Foliar application gave a higher rate of net photosynthesis than the soil drench. Paclobutrazol significantly reduced total leaf area and increased assimilate partitioning to the tubers. The study clearly showed that paclobutrazol is effective to suppress excessive vegetative growth, favor assimilation to the tubers, increase tuber yield, improve tuber quality and extend tuber dormancy of potato grown in high temperatures and long photoperiods.     

氮肥调控剂对潮褐土中不同氮源氮素转化及油菜生长的影响

采用土壤培养和盆栽试验相结合的方法,研究了硝化抑制剂双氰胺(DCD)与纳米碳配合施用对尿素和碳酸氢铵在华北平原典型土壤潮褐土中转化的调控效果及其对油菜生长的影响.结果表明:尿素和碳酸氢铵在施入土壤后的2周内,土壤无机氮的供应强度差别较大,2周以后则基本相似.2种氮源对油菜生长及氮素利用的影响在生育前期(播种后34 d)差异显著,但最终达到商品生物量收获时,氮源之间差异不大.DCD对尿素和碳酸氢铵在潮褐土中的转化表现出显著的硝化抑制作用,其抑制强度和有效抑制时间随DCD用量的增加而增强,且以对碳酸氢铵施入土壤后的硝化抑制效果更好.在本研究条件下,DCD用量以占肥料纯氮量的1.0％ ～1.5％相对较佳,可显著提高油菜产量,改善叶色,降低植株硝酸盐含量,提高氮肥利用率.纳米碳与DCD配合施用对土壤铵氧化有明显的协同抑制效果,且可以显著刺激油菜前期的生长发育和氮素利用,降低油菜硝酸盐含量.     

Urea-triazone N characteristics and uses

Urea-triazone nitrogen (N) is a stable solution resulting from a controlled reaction in aqueous medium of urea, formaldehyde, and ammonia which contains at least 25% total N. This N source contains no more than 40%, nor less than 5%, of total N from unreacted urea and not less that 40% from triazone. All other N shall be derived from water-soluble dissolved reaction products of the above reactants. It is a source of slowly available N. The rate of mineralization of urea-triazone is about 66% that of urea after 8 days when incorporated in a Munjor sandy loam. Ammonia volatilization losses of N applied as urea-triazone were about 41% of those from urea on a Cecil sandy loam in the first week after application. N leaching losses through saturated Yolo loam columns of urea-triazone were about two thirds that of urea or nitrate N. This N source has proven to be a safer and more effective material for direct application on plant foliage. Tomato growth was enhanced with foliar application of urea-triazone relative to that obtained from ammonium nitrate or urea. The stability of this N source from potential losses via ammonia volatilization and nitrate leaching when soil applied is also documented by results from university trials.     

氮肥调控剂对潮褐土中不同氮源氮素转化及油菜生长的影响

采用土壤培养和盆栽试验相结合的方法,研究了硝化抑制剂双氰胺(DCD)与纳米碳配合施用对尿素和碳酸氢铵在华北平原典型土壤潮褐土中转化的调控效果及其对油菜生长的影响.结果表明： 尿素和碳酸氢铵在施入土壤后的2周内,土壤无机氮的供应强度差别较大,2周以后则基本相似.2种氮源对油菜生长及氮素利用的影响在生育前期(播种后34 d)差异显著,但最终达到商品生物量收获时,氮源之间差异不大.DCD对尿素和碳酸氢铵在潮褐土中的转化表现出显著的硝化抑制作用,其抑制强度和有效抑制时间随DCD用量的增加而增强,且以对碳酸氢铵施入土壤后的硝化抑制效果更好.在本研究条件下,DCD用量以占肥料纯氮量的1.0%～1.5%相对较佳,可显著提高油菜产量,改善叶色,降低植株硝酸盐含量,提高氮肥利用率.纳米碳与DCD配合施用对土壤铵氧化有明显的协同抑制效果,且可以显著刺激油菜前期的生长发育和氮素利用,降低油菜硝酸盐含量.     

Response of conifer seedlings to nitrate and ammonium sources of nitrogen

Summary Differences in growth responses of Douglas fir, western hemlock, Sitka spruce, and white spruce to nitrate and ammonium N sources were examined in sand culture and artificial soil culture. Effects of the two forms of N on growth, needle area, and N uptake of three Douglas fir halb-sib progenies were examined in a second sand culture. Response of Douglas fir to the two forms of N was followed over two years in nursery soil of different pH levels. In sand culture 1 mean seedling dry weight of all species, except hemlock, was greatest when ammonium N and nitrate N were provided in equal amounts. In all species, except Sitka spruce, ammonium alone resulted in greater growth than nitrate alone. Use of ammonium N resulted in greater growth of all species, than was obtained with nitrate N, at pH values in the region 5.4 and 7.5 in artificial soil culture. Only Douglas fir showed substantial differences due to N source below pH 5. Growth of all species was greater at pH 5.4 than at 7.5 in each N source treatment. Growth of Douglas fir seedlings was greatest with ammonium N and least with nitrate N in sand culture 2. Supply of nitrate and ammonium in equal proportions resulted in intermediate growth. Leaf area/plant weight ratio was unaffected by N source. Analysis of nutrient solutions showed appreciable nitrification of ammonium N during the 7 days between solution changes. In the three greenhouse experiments, with little exception, increase in proportion of ammonium in N supply resulted in increase of seedling tissue N concentration. This effect was more pronounced in roots than shoots. Total N uptake by ammonium fed seedlings was about double the N uptake of nitrate fed seedlings in sand culture 2. Nursery grown Douglas fir seedlings showed greater growth response to ammonium sulphate than to calcium nitrate, and this appeared due entirely to form of N supply in the first year. A similar response in the second year was partly due to greater soil acidification by ammonium sulphate. Compared with calcium nitrate, ammonium sulphate increased N concentration of one-year old shoots, but this difference was not detected by foliar analysis of two-year old seedlings.     

Pot experiments on urea as a fertilizer

Summary The effects of applications of urea and ammonium nitrate on the growth and foliage yield of maize were compared in a series of pot experiments. The factors studied were; rate, form, method and time of application.It was concluded that above a threshold value (approx. 300 mg N/pot) urea was inferior to ammonium nitrate and that the factors affecting the efficiency of urea were soil type and also rate, method and time of the application. Physical form of the urea had no effect.     

Tracer studies on nitrogen immobilization-mineralization relationships in forest raw humus

Summary An investigation was conducted to study the effect of fertilizer-N, application rate, and incubation temperature on the immobilization-mineralization relationships of N in forest raw humus. Urea, ammonium chloride, and potassium nitrate enriched with N¹⁵ were used at rates of 0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 ppm N. During a 60 days' experimental period the soil was incubated at 12° and 20°C. The interchanges of N added to this highly acid humus material are to a great extent found to be governed by the N-carrier itself. The total recovery in the N¹⁵ inorganic pool at the end of the 60 days' period, increased with increasing fertilizer application rate regardless of the source of N added. With one exception only, the recovery of KCl-extractable N¹⁵ was larger in the ammonium treatment than in the urea-treated humus. The more striking differences between the interchanges of N¹⁵ in the urea and the ammonium treatments, as compared with the nitrate-treated humus, are revealed in the extremely high recovery of KCl-extractable N, and a concomitant low recovery of the added N in the non-extractable pool in the nitrate treatment. The immobilization and re-mineralization of N are found to be positively correlated with temperature. The total recovery of N¹⁵ was high in the nitrate treatment, and even higher in the ammonium-treated soil (96 to 104 per cent). However, the unaccounted-for losses reached a maximum of about 48 per cent of the added N at 20°C in the 400 ppm urea-N treatment. The results are consistent in showing a statistically highly significant effect of N-fertilizer, application rate, and temperature on the net mineralization of humus N. The release of soil N is discussed in relation to the highly significant two- and three-way interactions between the above-mentioned main variables. Contribution from the Forest Soil Fertilization Research Group, Vollebekk, Norway. This work was supported by the Agricultural Research Council of Norway.     

Impacts of nano- and non-nanofertilizers on potato quality and productivity

Today, to achieve sustainable agriculture with maximum yield and minimum environmental risks, the use of nanofertilizers has riveted ample consideration. Field experiments were conducted during binary season of 2016 and 2017 at Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Minia University, Egypt to estimate whether NPK nanofertilizers applied in equivalent or lower rates could replace recommended levels of NPK chemical fertilizers in potato farming systems without retrograde effects upon yield production or quality. Impacts of recommended rates of NPK chemical fertilizers (control treatments) compared to NPK nanofertilizers in equivalent or lower rates (100%, 50% and 25%), foliar or soil applied on potato productivity and quality were studied.Compared with control treatments, plots receiving foliar application of NPK nanofertilizers at 50% or 25% of recommended level showed higher values of economic yield (23.59-ton ha⁻¹), starch rates (79.62%), NPK nutrient use efficiency (67.74, 278.92, 118.54 kg potato/kg nutrient), harvest index (59.24%) and only lower potato nitrate content (1.15 g kg⁻¹) as a harmful indicator. Among all treatments, foliar application of NPK nanofertilizers at 50% rate was found to be the most economical treatment as it gave highest potato yield and quality plus highest profit: cost ratio of potato production. This research recommends foliar application of nanofertilizers in potato production to increase production and quality compared to soil applications. As yet, using lower rates of nanofertilizers as foliar application in the present study proved to be an eco-friendly environmental and economic alternative to recommended rates of chemical fertilizers with significant increase in potato productivity and quality.     

玉/豆和玉/薯模式下氮肥运筹对玉米氮素利用和土壤硝态氮残留的影响

过量施用氮肥造成的环境问题日益严重,氮肥合理使用已成为人们研究的热点.本文研究了西南玉米两种主要套作模式下氮肥运筹对玉米氮素利用和土壤硝态氮残留的影响.结果表明：连续分带轮作种植玉/豆模式后,玉米收获期植株中的氮素积累较玉/薯模式平均提高了6.1%,氮收获指数增加了5.4%,最终使氮肥利用效率提高4.3%,氮素同化量提高了15.1%,氮肥偏生产力提高了22.6%;玉米收获后硝态氮淋溶损失减少,60～120 cm土层中硝态氮残留玉/豆模式较玉/薯模式降低了10.3%,而0～60 cm土层中平均提高了12.9%,有利于培肥地力,两年产量平均较玉/薯模式高1249 kg·hm^-2,增产22%;增加施氮量提高了植株氮素积累,降低了氮肥利用率,显著提高了表层土壤中硝态氮的累积,60～100 cm土层中硝态氮的累积量在0～270 kg·hm^-2处理间差异不显著,继续增加施氮量会显著增加土壤硝态氮的淋溶;氮肥后移显著提高了土壤0～60 cm土层硝态氮的积累.两种模式下施氮量和底追比对玉米氮素吸收和硝态氮残留的影响结果不一致,玉/豆模式以施氮180～270 kg·hm^-2、按底肥∶拔节肥∶穗肥=3∶2∶5的施肥方式有利于提高玉米植株后期氮素积累、氮收获指数和氮肥利用效率,减少了氮肥损失,两年最高产量平均可达7757 kg·hm^-2;而玉/薯模式在180 kg·hm^-2、按底肥∶穗肥=5∶5的施肥方式下,氮素积累利用及产量均优于其他处理,两年平均产量为6572 kg·hm^-2,可实现两种模式下玉米高产、高效、安全的氮肥管理体系.
     

Relative efficiency of N fertilizers as influenced by N-serve in the potato crop

Summary Field experiments, on potato, were conducted in the alluvial soils of Ludhiana, in 1976–77 and 1980–81, to investigate the relative efficiency of N fertilizers as influenced by a nitrification inhibitor (N-serve). In the absence of N-serve, sulphate of ammonia (S/A) and calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) proved superior to urea, on an equal N basis, in almost all the yield characters and yield, but urea treated with N-serve tended to equal S/A and proved better than CAN. The inhibitor increased the N-uptake and N-recovery from urea and decreased the optimum basal dose of the fertilizer, by 10.8kg N/ha in 1976–77 and by 40.5 kg N/ha in 1980–81, without reducing the tuber yield in any of the two years. S/A and CAN did not profit from the treatment with N-serve.     

氮肥形态和用量对藏东南地区烤烟产量和质量的影响

在藏东南地区进行了氮肥用量和形态对烟产量与质量影响的田间试验。结果表明,在施N量0－150kg·hm^-2范围内,施N量与烘烤后烟叶产量、产值、氧化钾及总N含量呈显著或极显著正相关,与上中等烟比例、还原糖含量则呈显著负相关,糖／碳比显著下降,氮肥用量75kg·hm^-2时,产量、质量最佳。无机氮肥对烟产量与质量的效应极显著优于有机氮肥。铵态氮、硝态氮、硝铵态氮肥处理间除上中等烟比例,其它各项指标仅略有差异,但均极显著优于酰胺态氮肥。铵态氮对烤烟产量与质量的影响略优于硝态氮,主要在于烟株吸收和同化过程的差异。     

水分和氮源类型对小麦根际土壤酶活性和氮素利用效率的影响

本研究以‘郑麦366'(强筋)和‘百农207'(中筋)两个小麦品种为试验材料,分别在全生育期不灌水(W₁)和拔节+抽穗灌两水(W₂)条件下,研究了氯化铵(NT₁)、硝酸钙(NT₂)、尿素(NT₃)和硝酸铵钙(NT₄)4种氮源类型对小麦土壤供氮能力、产量和氮素利用效率的影响,以期为小麦高产高效生产提供理论和技术支撑。结果表明: 1)随着土层深度的增加,开花期土壤中铵态氮和硝态氮含量呈下降趋势。在W₂条件下,0～60 cm土层铵态氮、硝态氮含量,根际土壤脲酶、蔗糖酶和过氧化氢酶活性均低于相应W₁条件下,其中强筋小麦郑麦366平均分别下降10.0%、13.3%、7.5%、2.8%和3.9%。2)两个小麦品种0～60 cm土层铵态氮含量均表现为在NT₁和NT₃处理下显著高于其他处理;而硝态氮含量则在NT₂和NT₃处理下显著高于其他处理。与NT₁和NT₂处理相比,NT₃和NT₄提高了灌浆中、后期土壤脲酶和蔗糖酶活性。3)两个小麦品种在NT₃和NT₄处理下籽粒产量和氮素利用效率较高;其中在W₂条件下,郑麦366在NT₃和NT₄处理下的产量较NT₁处理分别增加14.9%和20.7%,NUE分别增加25.6%和13.9%。4)相关分析结果表明, 0～20 cm土壤硝态氮含量、20～40 cm土壤铵态氮含量分别与小麦产量、氮素利用效率呈显著正相关。两种水分条件下,施用尿素和硝酸铵钙均提高了灌浆中、后期根际土壤酶活性,有利于籽粒产量和氮素利用效率的提高。     

The effect of deep placement and surface application of nitrogen fertilizers at different light intensities on growth and yield of wetland rice

Summary Lowland rice (RD 3) was cultivated in containers of clay soil submerged with 5 cm water under controlled conditions in the phytotron. Deep placement of urea supergranules 5 cm in the soil significantly enhanced both plant growth and fertilizer efficiency when the plants were cultivated under high light intensity (70 Wm^–2). At the highest urea level grain yield increased 119% above the control level, while growth and fertilizer efficiency was not as high when deep placement of calcium nitrate was used.The application of urea prills and calcium nitrate (18.4g Nm^–2) in two split doses on the soil surface increased grain yield as much as 91% above the control level. At the lower nitrogen concentration (9.2 g N m^–2), the urea prills were more efficient than calcium nitrate as indicated by the grain yield. The height of those plants fertilized by surface application was affected by the concentration and not the type of fertilizer. The number of tillers, however, was significantly higher on urea fertilized plants.When the rice plants were cultivated under low light intensity 930 Wm^–2), neither the nitrogen fertilizers nor the method of application had a significant effect on growth and yield.     

Accumulation of Oxalate in Tissues of Sugar-beet, and the Effect of Nitrogen Supply

In field-grown sugar-beet concentration of insoluble oxalatewas low in roots and high (about 12 per cent of ethanol insolublematerial) in leaves, and for a particular leaf the concentrationincreased continuously during its life. Of the insoluble oxalate,15–30 per cent was present as the magnesium salt and theremainder as the calcium salt. Oxalate contents of plants grownin culture solutions with nitrate as nitrogen source were similarto those of plants grown in soil, but when nitrogen was suppliedas ammonium sulphate or ammonium nitrate both soluble and insolubleoxalate were low. Plants grown in soil with regular additionsof ammonium sulphate or ammonium nitrate also had very low concentrationsof soluble oxalate although insoluble oxalate was only slightlylower than with nitrate nitrogen. Disks of root or leaf tissuewashed for several days in distilled water lost insoluble oxalatebut when washed in tap water insoluble oxalate increased morethan twofold. Addition of calcium and nitrate to the distilledwater caused an increase of insoluble oxalate, while additionof potassium caused a decrease. Use of ¹⁴C labelled oxalateand washing experiments showed that oxalate can be metabolizedby tissue disks and so is not necessarily a final product ofmetabolism. The accumulation of oxalate appears to be connectedwith the assimilation of nitrate and the preservation of thecation-anion balance of the plant.     

The Influence of Urea and Other Nitrogen Sources on Growth Rate of Scots Pine Seedlings

The growth rate and water content of urea-fed seedlings of Pinus silvestris L. were compared with those of nitrate-and ammonium-fed seedlings grown in continuously renewed nutrient solutions, in which the hydrolysis of urea to ammonia and carbon dioxide was minimized. The growth rate of seedlings grown in an ammonium nutrient solution, in an urea nutrient solution and in a nitrate nutrient solution was about 90 per cent, 75 per cent and 60 per cent, respectively, of that of seedlings grown in a mixture of ammonium and nitrate. Seedlings with urea as the sole nitrogen source developed very severe chlorosis of the needles, the old roots were dark-coloured, the whole root system was very fragile, and the lateral roots of the third order were missing. Urea-grown seedlings had the highest nitrogen contents, closely followed by the ammonium and the ammonium + nitrate seedlings. The lowest nitrogen level was in nitrate seedlings. The low growth rate and the chlorosis of urea-fed seedlings were suggested to be the result of a hydrolysis of urea inside the root, causing an increase in pH and an accumulation of ammonia in the root.     

Production of lactic acid and byproducts from waste potato starch by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizopus arrhizus</Emphasis>: role of nitrogen sources

Summary Lactic acid was produced by Rhizopus arrhizus using waste potato starch as the substrate. The aim of this study was to identify the role of nitrogen sources and their impact on the formation of lactic acid and associated byproducts. Ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate, urea, yeast extract and peptone were assessed in conjunction with various ratios of carbon to nitrogen (C:N). Fermentation media with a low C:N ratio enhanced the production of lactic acid, biomass and ethanol, while a high C:N ratio favoured the production of fumaric acid. Ammonium nitrate appeared to be the most suitable nitrogen source for achieving a high and stable lactic acid yield, and minimizing the production of byproducts such as biomass and ethanol, while urea proved to be the least favourable nitrogen source. Yeast extract and peptone appeared to improve fungal cell growth. The kinetics data revealed that a high concentration of ammonium nitrate enhanced the lactic acid productivity. The maximum lactic acid concentration of 36.4 g/l, representing a yield of 91%, was obtained with addition of 0.909 g/l ammonium nitrate in 32 h.