Effect of nitrogen and light on nutrient concentrations and associated physiological responses in birch and fir seedlings

We grew seedlings of two co-occurring high elevation tree species in controlled light and nitrogen (N) environments to examine the effect on foliar N and P concentrations and the resulting correlation with photosynthesis and growth. Foliar N concentrations in both heart-leaf paper birch (Betula cordifolia) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea) seedlings were greater in low light treatments than in high light treatments. P concentrations, however, were lower in birch and fir foliage grown in low light than in high light. N-availability had no effect on foliar N in birch but tended to increase N concentration in fir needles at all but 100% ambient light. N-availability had no effect on P concentration in fir seedlings, but high N decreased foliar P in birch. There was a positive relationship between foliar N-concentration (mg g^–1) and mass-based maximum photosynthetic rate (Asat) in birch seedlings and a corresponding growth response to increased N-availability (suggesting N-limitation). Fir photosynthesis exhibited a positive correlation up to 22 mg g^–1 – N and a negative correlation above that point, suggesting that high N concentrations may be detrimental to photosynthesis in the fir seedlings. There was no significant effect of N-treatment on growth.     

The possibility of predicting solute uptake and plant growth response from independently measured soil and plant characteristics

Summary The growth and nitrogen uptake response of rape plants to nitrate concentration at the root surface were studied in solution culture in a controlled environment cabinet over a period of 24 days. NO₃ ^– was supplied at the rates of 10^–5 M, 5×10^–5 M, 10^–4 M, 10^–3 M and 10^–2 M in solution and was maintained near these levels.With increasing mean N concentration in the tissues, the relative growth rate and leaf area ratio increased and unit leaf rate decreased slightly. Values of all three growth parameters decreased with plant age.The shoot: root dry weight ratios and their N content ratios increased with increasing mean per cent N in the plant. The length or surface area per unit dry weight of roots was correlated negatively with per cent N and positively with age.The maximum mean inflow of nitrate to rape roots decreased sharply with age. The concentration at which half maximal mean inflow was attained was 3.44×10^–5 M NO₃ ^–.     

Corn (Zea mays L.) growth, leaf pigment concentration, photosynthesis and leaf hyperspectral reflectance properties as affected by nitrogen supply

Plant nitrogen (N)deficiency often limits crop productivity. Early detection of plant N deficiency is important for improving fertilizer N-use efficiency and crop yield. An experiment was conducted in sunlit, controlled environment chambers in the 2001 growing season to determine responses of corn (Zea mays L. cv. 33A14) growth and leaf hyperspectral reflectance properties to varying N supply. Four N treatments were: (1) half-strength Hoagland's nutrient solution applied throughout the experiment (control); (2) 20% of control N starting 15 days after emergence (DAE); (3) 0% N starting 15 DAE; and (4) 0% N starting 23 DAE (0% NL). Plant height, the number of leaves, and leaf lengths were examined for nine plants per treatment every 3–4 days. Leaf hyperspectral reflectance, concentrations of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b,and carotenoids, leaf and canopy photosynthesis, leaf area, and leaf N concentration were also determined during the experiment. The various N treatments led to a wide range of N concentrations (11 – 48 g kg^–1 DW) in uppermost fully expanded leaves. Nitrogen deficiency suppressed plant growth rate and leaf photosynthesis. At final harvest (42 DAE), plant height, leaf area and shoot biomass were 64–66% of control values for the 20% N treatment, and 46-56% of control values for the 0% N treatment. Nitrogen deficit treatments of 20% N and 0% N (Treatment 3) could be distinguished by changes in leaf spectral reflectance in wavelengths of 552 and 710 nm 7 days after treatment. Leaf reflectance at these two wavebands was negatively correlated with either leaf N (r = –0.72 and –0.75^**) or chlorophyll (r = –0.60 and –0.72^**) concentrations. In addition, higher correlations were found between leaf N concentration and reflectance ratios. The identified N-specific spectral algorithms may be used for image interpretation and diagnosis of corn N status for site-specific N management.     

Nitrogen cycling in grasslands at Kanpur,India

Summary The present paper deals with the distribution of nitrogen in the different plant compartments and in the top 30 cm soil among the protected, semi-protected and open-grazed grasslands at Kanpur (26° 26 N latitude and 80° 22 E longitude).The protected site indicated greater nitrogen content (g N m^–2) in the aboveground and belowground plant parts as compared to those of semi-protected and open-grazed sites. Nitrogen content in the combined live and dead herbage varied from 2.6 to 53.5 g m^–2 in protected community, 1.6 to 27.6 g m^–2 in semi-protected and 0.9 to 17.4 g m^–2 in open-grazed community. The content ranged between 1.0 to 17.7, 0.5 to 9.7 and 0.4 to 6.6 g m^–2 for belowground and from 0.1 to 1.1, 0.1 to 0.5 and 0.1 to 0.3 g m^–2 for litter compartments in protected, semi-protected and open-grazed community respectively.A significant positive relationship was found with the nitrogen per gram dry weight in combined live and dead herbage of the study sites and the average monthly relative humidity.The distribution pattern of nitrogen in plant/soil system indicated that the major portion of nitrogen (91 per cent in the protected, 95 per cent in the semi-protected and 96 per cent in the opengrazed stands) in the system was retained in the soil while a small fraction of it (9 per cent, 5 per cent and 4 per cent on protected, semi-protected and open-grazed area respectively) resided in plant compartments. Partitioning, uptake, transfer and release of nitrogen have been discussed in detail for all three sites.     

Response to inoculation and N fertilization for increased yield and biological nitrogen fixation of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is able to fix 20–60 kg N ha^–1 under tropical environments in Brazil, but these amounts are inadequate to meet the N requirement for economically attractive seed yields. When the plant is supplemented with N fertilizer, N₂ fixation by Rhizobium can be suppressed even at low rates of N. Using the ¹⁵N enriched method, two field experiments were conducted to compare the effect of foliar and soil applications of N-urea on N₂ fixation traits and seed yield. All treatments received a similar fertilization including 10 kg N ha^–1 at sowing. Increasing rates of N (10, 30 and 50 kg N ha^–1) were applied for both methods. Foliar application significantly enhanced nodulation, N₂ fixation (acetylene reduction activity) and yield at low N level (10 kg N ha^–1). Foliar nitrogen was less suppressive to nodulation, even at higher N levels, than soil N treatments. In the site where established Rhizobium was in low numbers, inoculation contributed substantially to increased N₂ fixation traits and yield. Both foliar and soil methods inhibited nodulation at high N rates and did not significantly increase bean yield, when comparing low (10 kg N ha^–1) and high (50 kg N ha^–1) rates applied after emergence. In both experiments, up to 30 kg N ha^–1 of biologically fixed N₂ were obtained when low rates of N were applied onto the leaves.     

The ascorbic acid content of eleven species of microalgae used in mariculture

The ascorbic acid (vitamin C) concentrations in 11 species of microalgae commonly used in mariculture were determined. The species examined were 4 diatoms (Chaetoceros calcitrans (Paulsen) Takano,Chaetoceros gracilis Schütt,Skeletonema costatum (Greville) Cleve,Thalassiosira pseudonana (Hustedt, clone 3H) Hasle and Heimdal); 2 prymnesiophytes (Isochrysis sp. (clone T.ISO) Parke,Pavlova lutheri (Droop) Green); 1 prasinophyte (Tetraselmis suecica (Kylin) Butcher); 2 chlorophytes (Dunaliella tertiolecta Butcher,Nannochloris atomus Butcher); 1 eustigmatophyte (Nannochloropsis oculata (Droop) Green); and 1 cryptophyte (Chroomonas salina (Wislouch) Butcher). Duplicate cultures of each species were grown under defined conditions and analysed during both logarithmic and stationary phase of growth.Average values for ascorbic acid ranged from 9.4 fg cell^–1 (N. oculata, stationary phase) to 700 fg cell^–1 (S. costatum, stationary phase). This value was generally related to cell size. Levels of ascorbic acid cell^–1 increased during the stationary growth phase forS. costatum andD. tertiolecta and decreased forC. gracilis, T. pseudonana, C. salina andN. oculata. Levels did not change significantly for the remaining species.Average values for per cent ascorbic acid ranged from 0.11% (T. pseudonana, stationary phase) to 1.62% of dry weight (C. gracilis, logarithmic phase). The per cent ascorbic acid was not related to algal class. Also, the percentage between logarithmic and stationary phase cultures differed for many of the species, but differences were unrelated to algal class.Chaetoceros gracilis, T. pseudonana, N. oculata andIsochrysis sp. (T.ISO) had higher per cent ascorbic acid during the logarithmic phase, whereasD. tertiolecta andN. atomus contained more per cent ascorbic acid during the stationary phase.Despite the differences in the composition of the different microalgae (0.11–1.62% ascorbic acid), all species would provide a rich source of ascorbic acid for maricultured animals, which can require 0.003–0.02% of the vitamin in their diet.     

How Phosphorus Availability Affects the Impact of Nitrogen Deposition on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sphagnum</Emphasis> and Vascular Plants in Bogs

To elucidate the impact of high nitrogen (N) deposition on intact bog vegetation, as affected by phosphorus (P) availability, we conducted a 4-year fertilization experiment with N and P at six sites, one with moderate N deposition and five with high N deposition. During the growing season, N (40 kg ha^–1 ya^–1), P (3 kg ha^–1 y^–1), or a combination of both elements was applied to the vegetation. The fertilization effects turned out to be additive in nature. Adding P decreased the inorganic N concentration and increased the P concentration in the rhizosphere at two sites. Furthermore, P stimulated Sphagnum growth and Sphagnum net primary productivity (NPP) at two sites; it also seemed to encourage growth at two other sites including the moderate-deposition site. Vascular plant growth remained largely unaffected but was depressed at one high-deposition site. Adding N increased the concentration of inorganic N in the rhizosphere at the moderate-deposition site and at two of the three high-deposition sites; vascular plant growth and litter production were encouraged at three high-deposition sites. The addition of N depressed Sphagnum height increment at four high deposition sites and reduced Sphagnum NPP at two sites. Shading by vascular plants was of minor importance in explaining the negative effects of N on Sphagnum. We conclude that because P alleviates the negative impact N has on Sphagnum by enhancing its capability to assimilate the deposited N, P availability is a major factor determining the impact of N deposition on Sphagnum production and thus on carbon sequestration in bogs.     

Relationships between C3 Plant Foliar Carbon Isotope Composition and Element Contents of Grassland Species at High Altitudes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,China

Relationships of foliar carbon isotope composition (δ¹³C) with foliar C, N, P, K, Ca, Mg contents and their ratios of 219 C₃ species leaf samples, obtained in August in 2004 to 2007 from 82 high altitude grassland sites on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau China, were examined. This was done with reference to the proposition that foliar δ¹³C increases with altitude and separately for the life-form groups of graminoids, forbs and shrubs and for the genera Stipa and Kobresia. For all samples, foliar δ¹³C was negatively related to foliar K, P and ∑_{K+ Ca+ Mg}, and positively correlated to foliar C, C/N and C/P. The significance of these correlations differed for the taxonomic and life-form groups. Lack of a relationship of foliar δ¹³C with foliar N was inconsistent with the majority of studies that have shown foliar δ¹³C to be positively related to foliar N due to a decrease of C_i/C_a (the ratio between intercellular and atmospheric concentration of CO₂) and explained as a result of greater photosynthetic capacity at higher foliar N concentration. However this inconsistency relates to other high altitude studies that have found that photosynthetic capacity remains constant as foliar N increases. After accounting for the altitudinal relationship with foliar δ¹³C, of the elements only the K effect was significant and was most strongly expressed for Kobresia. It is concluded that factors critical to plant survival and growth at very high altitudes, such as low atmospheric pressure and low temperatures, may preclude expression of relationships between foliar δ¹³C and foliar elements that have been observed at lower altitudes.     

Foliar N application reduces soil NO<Stack><Subscript>3</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript></Stack>-N leaching loss in apple orchards

A comparison of the effects of foliar and soil N application was made in field-grown mature fruiting Gala/M9 apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh) in 2001 and 2002 growing seasons under Pacific Northwest growing conditions in southern British Columbia, Canada. The trees, six years old at the start of the experiment, were treated: (1) with 5 g/l urea sprays supplied every two weeks (7 times) from mid May to mid August (total about 50 g N/tree/year), (2) with the same amount of N applied to the soil with the same timing and quantity as for the foliar treatment, and (3) with no N (control). Leaf color (as SPAD readings) and N concentrations (mg/g), and soil NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^–-N were measured periodically throughout the two seasons. Leached NO₃^–-N was monitored monthly via an anion exchange probe from June to October in 2001 and from May to November in 2002. Shoot length was measured in October and N concentration of one-year-old wood and roots was determined in December of each growing s eason. Soil N application significantly increased shoot length relative to control or foliar N application. Leaf color, leaf N, and N concentration of one-year-old wood and roots were similarly increased relative to control by both soil and foliar N application. These treatments also increased fruit yield relative to control. There was no significant difference in yield and fruit quality between soil and foliar N applications. Soil N application increased soil NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^–-N content in the root zone, and also increased the NO₃^– leaching loss below the root zone especially late in the growing season. Our results suggested that tree N status and yield and fruit quality could be maintained by multiple urea sprays during the growing season in apple orchards, and foliar N application will reduce the risk of soil NO₃^–-N leaching.     

Nitrogen and phosphorus resorption in trees of a Mexican tropical dry forest

Resorption efficiency (RE) and proficiency, foliar nutrient concentrations, and relative soil nutrient availability were determined during 3 consecutive years in tree species growing under contrasting topographic positions (i.e., top vs. bottom and north vs. south aspect) in a tropical dry forest in Mexico. The sites differed in soil nutrient levels, soil water content, and potential radiation interception. Leaf mass per area (g m^–2) increased during the growing season in all species. Soil P availability and mean foliar P concentrations were generally higher at the bottom than at the top site during the 3 years of the study. Leaf N concentrations ranged from 45.4 to 31.4 mg g^–1. Leaf P varied from 2.3 to 1.8 mg g^–1. Mean N and P RE varied among species, occasionally between top and bottom sites, and were higher in the dry than in the wet years of study. Senesced-leaf nutrient concentrations (i.e., a measure of resorption proficiency) varied from 13.7 to 31.2 mg g^–1 (N) and 0.4 to 3.3 mg g^–1 (P) among the different species and were generally indicative of incomplete nutrient resorption. Phosphorus concentrations in senesced leaves were higher at the bottom than at the top site and decreased from the wettest to the the driest year. Soil N and P availability were significantly different in the north- and south-facing slopes, but neither nutrient concentrations of mature and senesced leaves nor RE differed between aspects. Our results suggest that water more than soil nutrient availability controls RE in the Chamela dry forest, while resorption proficiency may be interactively controlled by both nutrient and water availability.     

Uptake of15N labeled nitrate by root systems of sweet corn, carrot and white cabbage from 0.2–2.5 meters depth

Leaching of NO ₃ ^– from vegetable cropping systems can be very high compared to arable systems. This is a problem for vegetable growers in general as it decreases groundwater quality, and for organic growers in particular as the organic production is often limited by N. In a field experiment, we investigated the N uptake and root growth of three vegetables using minirhizotrons reaching 2.4 m with the purpose to study the relationship between vegetable root distribution and uptake of NO ₃ ^– from deep soil layers. NO ₃ ^– uptake was studied over a 6 d period at the end of September by injection of 15 NO ₃ ^– at four depths in the ranges: 0.2–0.8, 0.6–1.8, and 1–2.5 m under late sweet corn (Zea mays L. convar. Saccharata Koern.), carrot (Daucus carota L.), and autumn white cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. convar. capitata (L.) Alef. var. alba DC), respectively. The root depths of the three crops were 0.6, 1.3, and more than 2.4 m, respectively. Uptake of¹⁵N was close to zero from placements below root depth, and linear relationships were found between root density and¹⁵N uptake from different depths. N inflow rates (uptake per unit root length) were in the same range for all species and depths. This indicates that the very different N use efficiencies often found for vegetable crops depend on species specific differences in root development over time and space, more than on differences in N uptake ability of the single root. Thus deep rooting is important for deep N uptake. Knowledge about deep root growth enables design of crop rotations with improved N use efficiency based on re-cycling of deep soil NO ₃ ^– by vegetables.     

Some allometric and non-allometric relationships between chlorophyll-a and abundance variables of phytoplankton

We analysed data from three Bulgarian reservoirs, with trophic status from meso to eutrophic. Two kinds of relations (non-allometric and allometric) of chlorophyll with phytoplankton density, biovolume and surface area were investigated. The non-allometric relationships compare these phytoplankton variables with chlorophyll-a concentration, while the allometric ones include comparisons of average individual volume (AIV) of phytoplankters with chlorophyll-a content per individual (Chl.N^–1), per unit biovolume (Chl.BV^–1) and per unit surface area (Chl.SA^–1).Maximum values of the rank correlation of the three non-allometric relationships were found in the eutrophic reservoir. The highest allometric correlation coefficients were observed in the mesotrophic reservoir. Two non-allometric relationships, Chl with N and Chl ith BV calculated on unified data from all three reservoirs showed lower significance and a non-linear character. Chl-SA relationship was always statistically significant and varied from linear to slightly non-linear when calculated on weighed values. Two allometric relationships, AIV with Chl.BV^–1 and AIV with Chl.N^–1 seem to be linear. A third AIV and Chl.SA^–1 was described by a polinomial of the second degree, indicating that the smallest and largest phytoplankton individuals have a similar chlorophyll content per unit surface area. At the highest trophy, the Chl.SA^–1 seemed lowest.The frequently investigated relationship between chlorophyll-a and biovolume ranged from statistically not significant in the mesotrophic to highly significant in the eutrophic reservoir. This tendency was generalized by obtaining a statistically significant rank correlation between the levels of significance of chlorophyll-biovolume correlations and the corresponding chlorophyll-a concentrations. The non-linear character of the chlorophyll-biovolume relationship over a wide range of trophy was probably caused by changes in surface area-biovolume ratio.Deceased.     

The use of dialysis culture in a study of chlorophyll budget in a brackish lagoon,Japan

Growth rates of the entire phytoplankton community of a brackish lagoon in northeastern Japan were estimated by measuring increasing chlorophyll a content in dialysis bags during the summer and early autumn of 1986. The chlorophyll a contents of lagoon water fluctuated between 20 and 200 mg m^–3. At lower densities of phytoplankton (20–50 mg chl. a m^–3), growth rates (the rate of increase of chlorophyll a) exceeded 1 turnover per day, while at higher densities (more than 50 mg chl. a m^–3), the growth rate decreased rapidly. Tidal exchanges of chlorophyll a showed net exports of chlorophyll a from the lagoon to adjacent waters. The exchange rate of chlorophyll a was estimated to be 0.65 d^–1. At about 140 mg m^–3 of chlorophyll a concentration, the increase of chlorophyll in the lagoon water compensated for tidal export. Only a small proportion of primary production was consumed by zooplankton in the lagoon. There were also net exports of ammonium and phosphate from the lagoon. Nutrient flux from sediment exceeded the phytoplankton requirement and was the major source of the ammonium and phosphate exports from the lagoon. The low inorganic N/P atom supply ratio in the lagoon suggests that nitrogen is a major nutrient limiting phytoplankton growth.     

Morphogenetic responses of tomato plants to combined and individual applications of gibberellic acid,Phosfon and B-nine

Summary Two growth retardants, B-nine (N-dimethylamino succinamic acid) and Phosfon (2,4-dichlorobenzyl-tributyl phosphonium chloride) were applied to tomato plants, either singly or in combination with gibberellic acid (GA), in order to determine various morphogenetic responses. GA (5 ml of 10^– M ⁴ per plant) and B-nine (5 ml of 1.56×10^–2 M per plant) were applied as foliar spray whereas Phosfon (1.5×10^–3 M in 10 ml of water per plant) was applied as soil amendment. Growth retardation by Phosfon persisted through the time of harvest and was somewhat neutralized by GA. Fruit set and extent of seediness of fruits were the maximum in Phosfon-treated plants compared to others. Plants receiving B-nine, however, recovered from the initial growth retardation and indicated no residual action at harvest. GA in combination with B-nine produced significantly greater vegetative growth and dry weight accumulation than did GA alone. This indicated that applied and endogenous GA responded differently to different growth retardants. None of the treatments had any noticeable effect on the time of flowering.     

Fertilization of poplar clones in the nursery

Summary Results of experiments with four poplar clones and various chemical fertilizers in a nursery in southern Greece are presented. At the end of the first growth period the heights of the four clones, without fertilizers, decreased in the order of I-214>I-262>cv. campeator > black poplar 1/64 with significant differences only between black poplar 1/64 and the rest of the clones.Of the fertilizer nutrients N, P, K and Mg only N improved heights of all clones significantly and especially of the clone I-214. One hundred and 200 kg of P fertilizer per ha had minimal or negative effect on height increase of all clones.Ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate and potassium nitrate all at 400 kg N per ha were found equally effective in improving height growth of the clone I-214 but ammonium nitrate is the N fertilizer of choice by its higher N content and relatively lower price.Ammonium nitrate at 200 kg N per ha, in two or three equal dosages, during the first growth period, June–July, gave the maximum height increase for two consecutive years of the clone I-214. Six hundred kgs, of N per ha reduced height increase of the same clone and increased losses of N, as NO₃ ^–, in drainage water.     

Effects of base cation fertilization on the nutrient status,free amino acids and some carbon fractions of the leaves of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.)

A study was conducted in the Lower Laurentians of southern Quebec to test the hypothesis that base cation fertilization would improve the nutrient status of declining sugar maples (Acer saccharum Marsh.) and alter the partitioning of leaf C and N. Six 40×40 m plots were delineated in an 80 year old stand of sugar maple. Three plots received a mixture of fertilizer and liming materials (500 kg ha^–1 of K₂SO₄, 250 kg ha^–1 of CaCO₃ and 250 kg ha^–1 of CaMg(CO₂)₂) in the spring of 1989. Leaves from mid crown of dominant or co-dominant maples were sampled monthly during the 1990 growing season. Trees were cored in 1992 to measure their response in diameter growth. Fertilization increased diameter growth and foliar K concentration of trees but reduced foliar Ca concentration. Fertilization resulted in lower starch concentrations and higher ratios of soluble sugars to starch in June and September, and in higher free amino acid concentrations but lower ratio of total non-structural carbohydrates to free amino acids in September. Leaf proline concentration was correlated with leaf starch concentration (r=0.39). The results suggest that amelioration of K deficiencies in sugar maple through fertilization with a mixture of base cations can increase tree growth and affect the seasonal dynamics of foliar C and N pools.Abbreviations FAA free amino acids - TNC total non-structural carbohydrates     

Growth and habitat separation in eight cohorts of three species of cyprinids in a subalpine lake

Synopsis Distribution and growth of the embryos, larvae and juveniles of Rutilus rutilus (roach), Scardinius erythrophthalmus (rudd) and Leuciscus cephalus (chub) from an oligotrophic subalpine lake in Tyrol, Austria, were studied during the first three to four months after hatching. R. rutilus was the first to spawn, a single cohort hatching around May 23rd. Four cohorts of S. erythrophthalmus hatched between June 19 and August 1. Three cohorts of L. cephalus hatched between July 3 and 25. The length/weight relationship of all species changed at a length of approximately 15–16 mm. R. rutilus, hatching at the lowest temperature, also showed the lowest growth rate during early life (maximum 10.4 per cent fresh body weight day^–1). In the other two species relative growth rates up to 20% day^–1) were measured. Rudd and chub remained in the shallow littoral during the whole period of observation, whereas roach left the littoral a few weeks after hatching and migrated into deeper water. A subtle shift in vertical distribution was observed for the first cohort of rudd which moved into slightly deeper water when the second cohort made its appearance.To whom correspondence should be addressed     

Tracer studies on the balance and chemical distribution of applied nitrogen under different moisture regimes using lysimeter

Summary Tracer studies were made on balance and chemical distribution of added fertilizer under field conditions using a modified type of lysimeter at different moisture regimes. A modified chemical method was also used for the determination of different forms of organic N.An average of 25 per cent of the isotope enriched nitrogen applied to soil could not be accounted for at the end of the 3 years of experiment. The amount of residual added N in soil was around 33 per cent of which 27 per cent was in 0–20 cm layers and only 6 per cent was found in 20–50 cm layers. The average crop recoveries were around 43 per cent. Only 0.18 per cent of NO₃–N was leached from the irrigated plots.The alkali-stable N (amino acid-N) fraction was higher for irrigated (19 per cent) than nonirrigated plots (15 per cent). There were no difference in the amounts of fixed NH₄, non-hydrolyzed and alkali-labile N fractions for irrigated and non-irrigated plots. Only an average of 1.5 per cent of total fertilizer N was found as fixed NH₄–N form but the total fixed NH₄–N was higher (10–13 per cent) than that reported by other workers for surface soil layers. The sum of different soil-nitrogen fractions were always higher than the total nitrogen in soil.     

Does nitrogen addition to raised bogs influence peat phosphorus pools?

Two Sphagnum moss species occupying hummock areas (Sphagnum capillifolium) and wetter hollows (Sphagnum recurvum) on a raised bog in north east Scotland were treated every two weeks with NH₄NO₃ solutions to supply 3g N m^–2 yr^–1. Although S. recurvum moss contained a greater concentration of total P than S. capillifolium the amounts and N:P ratios were similar in both species. Larger amounts of total dissolved P (TDP) and molybdate reactive P (MRP) were extracted from beneath S. recurvum to 25 cm below the moss. Additions of N both increased and decreased the amounts of TDP at different times, and decreased MRP. The MRP fraction accounted for about 20 per cent of TDP and the difference was assumed to be in organic forms (DOP). Nitrogen addition had no effect on the amounts of DOP, but C:P ratios of this fraction changed with species, depth and N addition. Microbial P accounted for as much as 70 per cent of total P and showed seasonal variations, but no differences between the two moss species and N addition.     

Nutrient Limitation of Native and Invasive N2-Fixing Plants in Northwest Prairies

Nutrient rich conditions often promote plant invasions, yet additions of non-nitrogen (N) nutrients may provide a novel approach for conserving native symbiotic N-fixing plants in otherwise N-limited ecosystems. Lupinus oreganus is a threatened N-fixing plant endemic to prairies in western Oregon and southwest Washington (USA). We tested the effect of non-N fertilizers on the growth, reproduction, tissue N content, and stable isotope δ¹⁵N composition of Lupinus at three sites that differed in soil phosphorus (P) and N availability. We also examined changes in other Fabaceae (primarily Vicia sativa and V. hirsuta) and cover of all plant species. Variation in background soil P and N availability shaped patterns of nutrient limitation across sites. Where soil P and N were low, P additions increased Lupinus tissue N and altered foliar δ¹⁵N, suggesting P limitation of N fixation. Where soil P was low but N was high, P addition stimulated growth and reproduction in Lupinus. At a third site, with higher soil P, only micro- and macronutrient fertilization without N and P increased Lupinus growth and tissue N. Lupinus foliar δ¹⁵N averaged −0.010‰ across all treatments and varied little with tissue N, suggesting consistent use of fixed N. In contrast, foliar δ¹⁵N of Vicia spp. shifted towards 0‰ as tissue N increased, suggesting that conditions fostering N fixation may benefit these exotic species. Fertilization increased cover, N fixation, and tissue N of non-target, exotic Fabaceae, but overall plant community structure shifted at only one site, and only after the dominant Lupinus was excluded from analyses. Our finding that non-N fertilization increased the performance of Lupinus with few community effects suggests a potential strategy to aid populations of threatened legume species. The increase in exotic Fabaceae species that occurred with fertilization further suggests that monitoring and adaptive management should accompany any large scale applications.