Effects of supplemental nitrogen rate and source on biomass production by three weed species in fallow vegetable land

In 1983, a study was conducted to evaluate three weed species for their biomass yield potential on a fallowed tomato land with various nitrogen (N) rates and sources. Dogfennel (Eupatorium capillifolium (Lam.)Small), sida (Sida rhombifolia L.), and pigweed (Amaranthus hybridus L.), were grown with three N rates: residual, 1x and 2x (1x = 56 kg ha⁻¹ N) and with two N sources: NH₄NO₃ and isobutylidene diurea (IBDU). Sida produced the greatest fresh and dry biomass yields and percentage dry matter, 43·3, 23·3 Mg ha⁻¹ and 54·1%, respectively. Yields of the three crops increased with increasing N rates and were higher with NH₄NO₃ than with IBDU. Overall, sida at the 2x N rate with NH₄NO₃ had the highest fresh, 73·8 Mg ha⁻¹, and dry biomass, 37·9 Mg ha⁻¹, yield. Lowest residual soil total soluble salt concentration, 170 ppm, was found after pigweed, in plots which did not receive additional N. Additional N application increased residual soil total soluble salts after each of the three weeds. Thus, additional N, in NH₄NO₃ form, was necessary for high yields in a fallowed vegetable land, but the additional fertilizer also increased soil total soluble salts, regardless of the plant species.     

Uptake and inhibition kinetics of nitrogen in Microcystis aeruginosa: Results from cultures and field assemblages collected in the San Francisco Bay Delta,CA

The nitrogen (N) uptake kinetic parameters for Microcystis field assemblages collected from the San Francisco Bay Delta (Delta) in 2012 and non-toxic and toxic laboratory culture strains of M. aeruginosa were assessed. The ¹⁵N tracer technique was used to investigate uptake of ammonium (NH₄⁺), nitrate (NO₃⁻), urea and glutamic acid over short-term incubations (0.5–1 h), and to study inhibition of NO₃⁻, NH₄⁺ and urea uptake by NH₄⁺, NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺, respectively. This study demonstrates that Delta Microcystis can utilize different forms of inorganic and organic N, with the greatest capacity for NH₄⁺ uptake and the least for glutamic acid uptake, although N uptake did not always follow the classic Michaelis–Menten hyperbolic relationship at substrate concentrations up to 67 μmol N L⁻¹. Current ambient N concentrations in the Delta may be at sub-saturating levels for N uptake, indicating that if N loading (especially NH₄⁺) were to increase, Delta Microcystis assemblages have the potential for increased N uptake rates. Delta Microcystis had the highest specific affinity, α, for NH₄⁺ and the lowest for NO₃⁻. In culture, N uptake by non-toxic and toxic M. aeruginosa strains was much higher than from the field, but followed similar N utilization trends to those in the field. Neither strain showed severe inhibition of NO₃⁻ uptake by NH₄⁺ or inhibition of NH₄⁺ uptake on NO₃⁻, but both strains showed some inhibition of urea uptake by NH₄⁺.     

Dissolved Nitrogen Uptake by a Cyanobacterial Bloom (Anabaena flos-aquae) in a Subarctic Lake

Uptake of dissolved nitrogen (NH₄⁺ + NO₃^- + urea + N₂) by a cyanobacterial [Anabaena flos-aquae (Lyngb.)] De Brèb population in Smith Lake, Alaska, was measured every 2 to 4 days during the spring of 1990. Total dissolved nitrogen uptake ranged from 0.34 to 24.75 μmol liter^-1 h^-1, with a mean of 5.75 μmol liter^-1 h^-1; the euphotic zone accounted for 91% of the uptake. The mean turnover time for dissolved combined nitrogen (NH₄⁺ + NO₃^- + urea) in the euphotic zone was less than 14 h, and that for NH₄⁺ was only 3.6 h. The mean relative preference indices for NH₄⁺ (2.4), NO₃^- (0.4), and urea (0.5) established NH₄⁺ as the preferred nitrogenous nutrient. The uptake rates were apparently dependent on biomass, temperature, and light. Regeneration, probably due to zooplankton excretion and bacterial remineralization of dissolved organic nitrogen, was the main source of NH₄⁺ for the cyanobacterial growth. The high half-saturation constant for NH₄⁺ with low ambient NH₄⁺ concentration nevertheless resulted in the simultaneous utilization of several forms of nitrogen.     

15N MEASUREMENTS OF AMMONIUM AND NITRATE UPTAKE BY ULVA FENESTRATA (CHLOROPHYTA) AND GRACILARIA PACIFICA (RHODOPHYTA): COMPARISON OF NET NUTRIENT DISAPPEARANCE,RELEASE OF AMMONIUM AND NITRATE,AND 15N ACCUMULATION IN ALGAL TISSUE 1

Ammonium and nitrate uptake rates in the macroalgae Ulva fenestrata (Postels and Ruprecht) (Chlorophyta) and Gracilaria pacifica (Abbott) (Rhodophyta) were determined by ¹⁵N accumulation in algal tissue and by disappearance of nutrient from the medium in long‐term (4–13 days) incubations. Nitrogen‐rich algae (total nitrogen> 4% dry weight [dw]) were used to detect isotope dilution by release of inorganic unlabeled N from algal thalli. Uptake of NH₄ ⁺ was similar for the two macroalgae, and the highest rates were observed on the first day of incubation (45 μmol N·g dw ^{? 1}·h ^{? 1} in U. fenestrata and 32 μmol N·g dw ^{? 1}·h ^{? 1} in G. pacifica). A significant isotope dilution (from 10 to 7.9 atom % enrichment) occurred in U. fenestrata cultures during the first day, corresponding to a NH₄ ⁺ release rate of 11 μmol N·g dw ^{? 1}·h ^{? 1}. Little isotope dilution occurred in the other algal cultures. Concurrently to net NH₄ ⁺ uptake, we observed a transient free amino acid (FAA) release on the first day in both macroalgal cultures. The uptake rates estimated by NH₄ ⁺ disappearance and ¹⁵N incorporation in algal tissue compare well (82% agreement, defined as the percentage ratio of the lower to the higher rate) at high NH₄ ⁺ concentrations, provided that isotope dilution is taken into account. On average, 96% of added ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ was recovered from the medium and algal tissue at the end of the incubation. Negligible uptake of NO₃ ^? was observed during the first 2–3 days in both macroalgae. The lag of uptake may have resulted from the need for either some N deprivation (use of NO₃ ^? pools) or physiological/metabolic changes required before the uptake of NO₃ ^? . During the subsequent days, NO₃ ^? uptake rates were similar for the two macroalgae but much lower than NH₄ ⁺ uptake rates (1.97–3.19 μmol N·g dw ^{? 1}·h ^{? 1}). Very little isotope dilution and FAA release were observed. The agreement between rates calculated with the two different methods averaged 91% in U. fenestrata and 95% in G. pacifica. Recovery of added ¹⁵NO₃ ^? was virtually complete (99%). These tracer incubations show that isotope dilution can be significant in NH₄ ⁺ uptake experiments conducted with N‐rich macroalgae and that determination of ¹⁵N atom % enrichment of the dissolved NH₄ ⁺ is recommended to avoid poor isotope recovery and underestimation of uptake rates.     

Metabolic regulation and gene expression of root phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase by different nitrogen sources

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) N-sufficient plants were fed 1·5 mM N in the form of NO₃⁻, NH₄⁺ or NO₃⁻ in conjunction with NH₄⁺, or were N-deprived for 2 weeks. The specific activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) from the non-nodulated roots of N-sufficient plants was increased in comparison with that of N-deprived plants. The PEPC value was highest with NO₃⁻ nutrition, lowest with NH₄⁺ and intermediate in plants that were fed mixed salts. The protein was more abundant in NO₃⁻-fed plants than in either NH₄⁺- or N mixed-fed plants. Nitrogen starvation decreased the level of PEPC mRNA, and nitrate was the N form that most stimulated PEPC gene expression. The malate content was significantly lower in NO₃⁻-deprived than in NO₃⁻-sufficient plants. Root malate accumulation was high in NO₃⁻-fed plants, but decreased significantly in plants that were fed with NH₄⁺. The effect of malate on the desalted enzyme was also investigated. Root PEPC was not very sensitive to malate and PEPC activity was inhibited only by very high concentrations of malate. Asparagine and glutamine enhanced PEPC activity markedly in NO₃⁻-fed plants, but failed to affect plants that were either treated with other N types or N starved. Glutamate and citrate inhibited PEPC activity only at optimal pH. N-nutrition also influenced root nitrate and ammonium accumulation. Nitrate accumulated in the roots of NO₃⁻- and (NO₃⁻ + NH₄⁺)-fed plants, but was undetectable in those administered NH₄⁺. Both the nitrate and the ammonium contents were significantly reduced in NO₃⁻- and (NO₃⁻ + NH₄⁺)-starved plants. Root accumulation of free amino acids was strongly influenced by the type of N administered. It was highest in NH₄⁺-fed plants and the most abundant amides were asparagine and glutamine. It was concluded that root PEPC from alfalfa plants is N regulated and that nitrate exerts a strong influence on the PEPC enzyme by enhancing both PEPC gene expression and activity.     

EFFECTS OF NH4+ ASSIMILATION ON DARK CARBON FIXATION AND β-1,3-GLUCAN METABOLISM IN THE MARINE DIATOM SKELETONEMA COSTATUM (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE)

The effects of NH₄⁺ assimilation on dark carbon fixation and β-1,3-glucan metabolism in the N-limited marine diatom Skeletonema costatum (Grev.) Cleve (Bacillariophyceae) were investigated by chemical analysis of cell components and incorporation of ¹⁴C-bicarbonate. The diatom was grown in pH-regulated batch cultures with a 14:10 h LD cycle until N depletion. The cells were then incubated in the dark with ¹⁴C-bicarbonate, but without a source of N for 2 h, then in the dark with 63 μmol·L⁻¹ NH₄⁺ for 3 h. Without N, the cellular concentration of free amino acids was almost constant (∼4.5 fmol·cell⁻¹). Added NH₄⁺ was assimilated at a rate of 12 fmol·cell⁻¹·h⁻¹, and the cellular amino acid pool increased rapidly (doubled in <1 h, tripled in <3 h). The glutamine level increased steeply (45× within 3 h), and the Gln/ Glu ratio increased from 0.1 to 2.4 within 3 h. The rate of dark C fixation during N depletion was only 1.0 fmol·cell⁻¹·h⁻¹. The addition of NH₄⁺ strongly stimulated dark C fixation, leading to an assimilation rate of 4.0 fmol·cell⁻¹·h⁻¹, corresponding to a molar C/N uptake ratio of 0.33. Biochemical fractionation of organic ¹⁴C showed no significant ¹⁴C fixation into amino acids during N depletion, but during the first 1–2 h of NH₄⁺ assimilation, amino acids were rapidly radiolabeled, accounting for virtually all net ¹⁴C fixation. These results indicate that anaplerotic β-carboxylation is activated during NH₄⁺ assimilation to provide C₄ intermediates for amino acid biosynthesis. The level of cellular β-1,3-d-glucan was constant (16.5 pg·cell⁻¹) during N depletion, but NH₄⁺ assimilation activated a mobilization of 28% of the reserve glucan within 3 h. The results indicate that β-1,3-glucan in diatoms is the ultimate substrate for β-carboxylation, providing precursors for amino acid biosynthesis in addition to energy from respiration.     

Effect of water level fluctuation on nitrogen removal from constructed wetland mesocosms

Nitrogen removal processes were investigated at three frequencies of water level fluctuation, static, low and high (0, 2 and 6 d⁻¹), in duplicate gravel-bed constructed wetland mesocosms (0.145 m³) with and without plants (Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani). Fluctuation was achieved by temporarily pumping wastewater into a separate tank (total drain time ∼35 min). Intensive sampling of the mesocosms, batch-fed weekly with ammonium-rich (∼100 g m⁻³ NH₄-N) farm dairy wastewaters, showed rates of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) removal increased markedly with fluctuation frequency and in the presence of plants. Nearly complete removal of NH₄-N was recorded over the 7 day batch period at the highest level of fluctuation, with minimal enhancement by plants. Redox potentials (Eh) at 100 mm depth rose from initial levels of around −100 to >350 mV and oxidised forms of N (NO₂ and NO₃) increased to ∼40 g m⁻³, suggesting conditions were conducive to microbial nitrification at this level of fluctuation. In the unplanted mesocosms with low or zero fluctuation, mean NH₄-N removals were only 28 and 10%, respectively, and redox potentials in the media remained low for a substantial part of the batch periods (mid-batch Eh ∼+100 and −100 mV, respectively). In the presence of wetland plants, mean NH₄-N removal in the mesocosms with low or zero fluctuation rose to 71 and 54%, respectively, and COD removal (>70%) and redox potential (mid-batch Eh>200 mV) were markedly higher than in the unplanted mesocosms. Negligible increases in oxidised N were recorded at these fluctuation frequencies, but total nitrogen levels declined at mean rates of 2.4 and 1.8 g m⁻² d⁻¹, respectively. NH₄-N removal from the bulk water in the mesocosms was well described (R²=0.97–0.99) by a sorption-plant uptake-microbial model. First-order volumetric removal rate constants (k_v) rose with increasing fluctuation frequency from 0.026 to 0.46 d⁻¹ without plants and from 0.042 to 0.62 d⁻¹ with plants. As fluctuation frequency increased, reversible sorption of NH₄-N to the media, and associated biofilms and organic matter, became an increasingly important moderator of bulk water concentrations during the batch periods. TN mass balances for the full batch periods suggested that measured plant uptake estimates of between 0.52 and 1.07 g N m⁻² d⁻¹ (inversely related to fluctuation frequency) could fully account for the increased overall removal of TN recorded in the planted systems. By difference, microbial nitrification-denitrification losses were therefore estimated to be approximately doubled by low-level fluctuation from 0.7 to 1.4 g N m⁻² d⁻¹ (both with and without plants), rising to a maximum rate of 2.1 g N m⁻² d⁻¹ at high fluctuation, in the absence of competitive uptake by plants.     

A comparative study of fluxes and compartmentation of nitrate and ammonium in early-successional tree species

¹³NO₃^– and ¹³NH₄⁺ compartmental analyses were carried out in seedling roots of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) and interior Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca [Beissn.] Franco) at 0·1 and 1·5 mol m^–3 external NO₃^– or NH₄⁺ concentrations ([NO₃^–]_o or [NH₄⁺]_o, respectively). At the lower [NO₃^–]_o, the capacities and efficiencies of acquisition and accumulation of NO₃^–, based upon NO₃^– fluxes and cytoplasmic NO₃^– concentrations ([NO₃^–]_c), were in the order aspen >> Douglas-fir > pine. At 1·5 mol m^–3[NO₃^–]_o, the NO₃^– influx increased 18-fold in pine, four-fold in Douglas-fir and approximately 1·4-fold in aspen; in fact, at 1·5 mol m^–3[NO₃^–]_o, the NO₃^– influx in pine was higher than in aspen. However, at high [NO₃^–]_o, efflux also increased in the two conifers to a much greater extent than in aspen. In aspen, at both [NO₃^–]_o, approximately 30% of the ¹³N absorbed was translocated to the shoot during 57 min of ¹³N loading and elution, compared with less than 10% in the conifers. At 0·1 mol m^–3[NH₄⁺]_o, influx and net flux were in the order: aspen > pine > Douglas-fir but the differences were much less than in NO₃^– fluxes. At 1·5 mol m^–3[NH₄⁺]_o, NH₄⁺ influx, efflux and [NH₄⁺]_c greatly increased in aspen and Douglas-fir and, to a much lesser extent, in pine. In aspen, 29 and 12% of the ¹³N absorbed was translocated to the shoot at 0·1 and 1·5 mol m^–3[NH₄⁺]_o, respectively, compared with 5 to 7% in the conifers at either [NH₄⁺]_o. These patterns of nitrogen (N) uptake, particularly in the case of NO₃^–, and the observed concentration responses of NO₃^– uptake, reflect the availability of N in the ecological niches, to which these species are adapted.     

Growth and Nitrogen Uptake Kinetics in Cultured Prorocentrum donghaiense

We compared growth kinetics of Prorocentrum donghaiense cultures on different nitrogen (N) compounds including nitrate (NO₃ ⁻), ammonium (NH₄ ⁺), urea, glutamic acid (glu), dialanine (diala) and cyanate. P. donghaiense exhibited standard Monod-type growth kinetics over a range of N concentraions (0.5–500 μmol N L⁻¹ for NO₃ ⁻ and NH₄ ⁺, 0.5–50 μmol N L⁻¹ for urea, 0.5–100 μmol N L⁻¹ for glu and cyanate, and 0.5–200 μmol N L⁻¹ for diala) for all of the N compounds tested. Cultures grown on glu and urea had the highest maximum growth rates (μ_m, 1.51±0.06 d⁻¹ and 1.50±0.05 d⁻¹, respectively). However, cultures grown on cyanate, NO₃ ⁻, and NH₄ ⁺ had lower half saturation constants (K_μ, 0.28–0.51 μmol N L⁻¹). N uptake kinetics were measured in NO₃ ⁻-deplete and -replete batch cultures of P. donghaiense. In NO₃ ⁻-deplete batch cultures, P. donghaiense exhibited Michaelis-Menten type uptake kinetics for NO₃ ⁻, NH₄ ⁺, urea and algal amino acids; uptake was saturated at or below 50 μmol N L⁻¹. In NO₃ ⁻-replete batch cultures, NH₄ ⁺, urea, and algal amino acid uptake kinetics were similar to those measured in NO₃ ⁻-deplete batch cultures. Together, our results demonstrate that P. donghaiense can grow well on a variety of N sources, and exhibits similar uptake kinetics under both nutrient replete and deplete conditions. This may be an important factor facilitating their growth during bloom initiation and development in N-enriched estuaries where many algae compete for bioavailable N and the nutrient environment changes as a result of algal growth.     

The uptake and translocation of macro- and microelements in rape and wheat seedlings as affected by selenium supply level

Plant growth in saline soils may be increased by fertilisation, but little is known about the effect of different forms of N on wheat growth in soils with different salinity levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv Krichauff) to (NH₄)₂SO₄ or KNO₃ or NH₄NO₃ at 0 (N0), 50 (N50), 100 (N100) and 200 (N200) mg N?kg^?1 soil in a saline sandy loam. Salinity was induced using Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ salts to achieve three EC_e levels, 2.8, 6.6 and 11.8 dS m^?1 denoted S1, S2 and S3, respectively, while maintaining a low SAR (>1). Dry weights of shoot and root were reduced by salinity in all N treatments. Addition of N significantly increased shoot and root dry weights with significant differences between N forms. Under non-saline conditions (S1), addition of NO₃???N at rates higher than N50 had a negative effect, while N100 as NH₄???N or NH₄NO₃???N increased shoot and root dry weights. At N100, shoot concentrations of N and K were higher and P, Ca, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn were lower with NO₃???N than with NH₄???N nutrition. The concentration of all nutrients however fell in ranges did not appear to be directly associated with poor plant growth with NO₃???N. At all N additions, calculations indicated that soil salinity was highest with N addition as NO₃???N and decreased in the following order: NO₃?N > NH₄?N > NH₄NO₃?N. Addition of greater than N50 as NO₃???N, compared to NH₄???N or NH₄???NO_3, increased soil salinity and reduced micronutrient uptake both of which likely limited plant growth. It can be concluded that in saline soils addition of 100 mg N?kg^?1 as NH₄???N or NH₄NO₃???N is beneficial for wheat growth, whereas NO₃???N can cause growth depression.     

Nitrogen uptake responses of Gracilaria vermiculophylla (Ohmi) Papenfuss under combined and single addition of nitrate and ammonium

The ammonium (NH₄⁺) and nitrate (NO₃⁻) uptake responses of tetrasporophyte cultures from a Portuguese population of Gracilaria vermiculophylla were studied. Thalli were incubated at 5 nitrogen (N) levels, including single (50 μM of NH₄⁺ or NO₃⁻) and combined addition of each of the N sources. For the combined additions, the experimental conditions attempted to simulate 2 environments with high N availability (450 μM NO₃⁻ + 150 μM NH₄⁺; 250 μM NO₃⁻ + 50 μM NH₄⁺) and the mean N concentrations occurring at the estuarine environment of this population (30 μM NO₃⁻ + 5 μM NH₄⁺). The uptake kinetics of NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ were determined during a 4 h time-course experiment with N deprived algae. The experiment was continued up to 48 h, with media exchanges every 4 h. The uptake rates and efficiency of the two N sources were calculated for each time interval. For the first 4 h, G. vermiculophylla exhibited non-saturated uptake for both N sources even for the highest concentrations used. The uptake rates and efficiency calculated for that period (V_0-4 h), respectively, increased and decreased with increasing substrate concentration. NO₃⁻ uptake rates were superior, ranging from 1.06 ± 0.1 to 9.65 ± 1.2 μM g(dw)⁻¹ h⁻¹, with efficiencies of 19% to 53%. NH₄⁺ uptake rates were lower (0.32 ± 0.0 to 5.75 ± 0.08 μM g(dw)⁻¹ h⁻¹) but G. vermiculophylla removed 63% of the initial 150 μM and 100% at all other conditions. Uptake performance of both N sources decreased throughout the duration of the experiment and with N tissue accumulation. Both N sources were taken up during dark periods though with better results for NH₄⁺. Gracilaria vermiculophylla was unable to take up NO₃⁻ at the highest concentration but compensated with a constant 27% NH₄⁺ uptake through light and dark periods. N tissue accumulation was maximal at the highest N concentration (3.9 ± 0.25% dw) and superior under NH₄⁺ (3.57 ± 0.2% dw) vs NO3 (3.06 ± 0.1% dw) enrichment. The successful proliferation of G. vermiculophylla in estuarine environments and its potential utilization as the biofilter component of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) are discussed.     

Nitrogen nutrition of Canna indica: Effects of ammonium versus nitrate on growth, biomass allocation, photosynthesis, nitrate reductase activity and N uptake rates

The effects of inorganic nitrogen (N) source (NH₄⁺, NO₃⁻ or both) on growth, biomass allocation, photosynthesis, N uptake rate, nitrate reductase activity and mineral composition of Canna indica were studied in hydroponic culture. The relative growth rates (0.05-0.06 g g⁻¹ d⁻¹), biomass allocation and plant morphology of C. indica were indifferent to N nutrition. However, NH₄⁺ fed plants had higher concentrations of N in the tissues, lower concentrations of mineral cations and higher contents of chlorophylls in the leaves compared to NO₃⁻ fed plants suggesting a slight advantage of NH₄⁺ nutrition. The NO₃⁻ fed plants had lower light-saturated rates of photosynthesis (22.5 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) than NH₄⁺ and NH₄⁺/NO₃⁻ fed plants (24.4-25.6 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) when expressed per unit leaf area, but similar rates when expressed on a chlorophyll basis. Maximum uptake rates (V_max) of NO₃⁻ did not differ between treatments (24-35 μmol N g⁻¹ root DW h⁻¹), but V_max for NH₄⁺ was highest in NH₄⁺ fed plants (81 μmol N g⁻¹ root DW h⁻¹), intermediate in the NH₄NO₃ fed plants (52 μmol N g⁻¹ root DW h⁻¹), and lowest in the NO₃⁻ fed plants (28 μmol N g⁻¹ root DW h⁻¹). Nitrate reductase activity (NRA) was highest in leaves and was induced by NO₃⁻ in the culture solutions corresponding to the pattern seen in fast growing terrestrial species. Plants fed with only NO₃⁻ had high NRA (22 and 8 μmol NO₂⁻ g⁻¹ DW h⁻¹ in leaves and roots, respectively) whereas NRA in NH₄⁺ fed plants was close to zero. Plants supplied with both forms of N had intermediate NRA suggesting that C. indica takes up and assimilate NO₃⁻ in the presence of NH₄⁺. Our results show that C. indica is relatively indifferent to inorganic N source, which together with its high growth rate contributes to explain the occurrence of this species in flooded wetland soils as well as on terrestrial soils. Furthermore, it is concluded that C. indica is suitable for use in different types of constructed wetlands.     

Long distance nitrogen air pollution effects on lichens in Europe

The epiphytic lichen flora of 25 European ICP-IM monitoring sites, all situated in areas remote from air pollution sources, was statistically related to measured levels of SO₂in air, NH₄⁺, NO₃⁻ and SO₄²⁻ in precipitation, annual bulk precipitation, and annual average temperature. Significant regression models were calculated for eleven acidophytic species. Several species show a strong negative correlation with nitrogen compounds. At concentrations as low as 0·3 mg N l⁻¹in precipitation, a decrease of the probability of occurrence is observed for Bryoria capillaris, B. fuscescens, Cetraria pinastri, Imshaugia aleurites and Usnea hirta. The observed pattern of correlations strongly suggests a key role of NH₄⁺ in determining the species occurrence, but an additional role of NO₃⁻ cannot be ruled out. Some species show a distinct response to current levels of SO₂as well. It may be concluded that long distance nitrogen air pollution has strong influence on the occurrence of acidophytic lichen species.     

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.     

Discrimination of nitrogen isotopes during absorption of ammonium and nitrate at different nitrogen concentrations by rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants

Studies of uptake of ionic sources of N by two hydroponically grown rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars (paddy‐field‐adapted Koshihikari and dryland‐adapted Kanto 168) showed that the magnitude of the nitrogen isotope fractionation (?) for uptake of NH₄⁺ depended on the concentrations of NH₄⁺ and cultivar (averaging –6·1‰ for Koshihikari and –12·0‰ for Kanto 168 at concentrations from 40 to 200 mmol m^?3 and, respectively, –13·4 and –28·9‰ for the two cultivars at concentrations from 0·5 to 4 mol m^?3). In contrast, the ? for uptake of NO₃^? in similar experiments was almost insensitive to the N concentration, falling within a much narrower range (+3·2‰ to –0·9‰ for Koshihikari and –0·9‰ to –5·1‰ for Kanto 168 over NO₃^? concentrations from 0·04 to 2 mol m^?3). From longer term experiments in which Norin 8 and its nitrate‐reductase deficient mutant M819 were grown with 2 or 8 mol m^?3 NO₃^? for 30 d, it was concluded that the small concentration‐independent isotopic fractionation during absorption of this ion was not related to nitrate reductase activity.     

The role of gross and net N transformation processes and NH4 + and NO3 − immobilization in controlling the mineral N pool of a temperate mixed deciduous forest soil

In many forests of Europe and north-eastern North America elevated N deposition has opened the forest N cycle, resulting in NO₃ ^? leaching. On the other hand, despite this elevated N deposition, the dominant fate of NO₃ ^? and NH₄ ⁺ in some of these forests is biotic or abiotic immobilization in the soil organic matter pool, preventing N losses. The environmental properties controlling mineral N immobilization and the variation and extent of mineral N immobilization in forest soils are not yet fully understood. In this study we investigated a temperate mixed deciduous forest, which is subjected to an average N deposition of 36.5 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1, but at the same time shows low NO₃ ^? concentrations in the groundwater. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the turnover rate of the mineral N pool could explain these low N leaching losses. A laboratory ¹⁵N pool dilution experiment was conducted to study gross and net N mineralization and nitrification and mineral N immobilization in the organic and uppermost (0–10 cm) mineral layer of the forest soil. Two locations, one at the forest edge (GE) and another one 145 m inside the forest (GF1), were selected. In the organic layers of GE and GF1, the gross N mineralization averaged 10.9 and 11.1 mg N kg^?1 d^?1, the net N mineralization averaged 6.1 and 6.8 mg N kg^?1 d^?1 and NH₄ ⁺ immobilization rates averaged 3.8 and 3.6 mg N kg^?1 d^?1. In the organic layer of GE and GF1, the average gross nitrification was 3.8 and 4.6 mg N kg^?1 d^?1, the average net nitrification was ?25.2 and ?31.3 mg N kg^?1 d^?1 and the NO₃ ^? immobilization rates averaged 29.0 and 35.9 mg N kg^?1 d^?1. For the mineral (0–10 cm) layer the same trend could be observed, but the N transformation rates were much lower for the NH₄ ⁺ pool and not significantly different from zero for the NO₃ ^? pool. Except for the turnover of the NH₄ ⁺ pool in the mineral layer, no significant differences were observed between location GE and GF1. The ratio of NH₄ ⁺ immobilization to gross N mineralization, gross N mineralization to gross nitrification, and NO₃ ^? immobilisation to gross nitrification led to the following observations. The NH₄ ⁺ pool of the forest soil was controlled by N mineralization and NO₃ ^? immobilization was importantly controlling the forest NO₃ ^? pool. Therefore it was concluded that this process is most probably responsible for the limited NO₃ ^? leaching from the forest ecosystem, despite the chronically high N deposition rates.     

Effect of ammonia and urea treatments on digestibility and nitrogen content of dehydrated lucerne

Dehydrated lucerne of low (L: 0.53), normal (N: 0.55) and high (H: 0.73) in vivo dry matter (DM) digestibility were treated with ammonia or urea to study the effects on in situ and pepsin-cellulase DM digestibilities, water solubility and nitrogen content (Experiments 1, 2, 4) and on cell wall composition and degradability (Experiment 3). (1) N lucerne was treated with 30 g NH₃ kg⁻¹ DM for 1 to 12 weeks at 30°C and 2 to 6 days at 80°C; (2) L, N and H lucerne were treated with increasing ammonia levels: 15 to 100 g kg⁻¹ DM for 3 weeks at 30°C and 4 days at 80°C; (3) L, N and H lucerne were treated with 60 g NH₃ kg⁻¹ DM for 3 weeks at 30°C and 4 days at 80°C; (4) L, N and H lucerne were treated with 60 g urea kg⁻¹ DM without addition of urease for 3 and 6 weeks at 30°C. All treatments were carried out at 40% humidity.In situ and pepsin-cellulase DM digestibilities increased significantly (P < 0.05) with the duration of treatment (up to 3 weeks at 30°C and 4 days at 80°C) and with the level of ammonia (P < 0.01) (up to 30 g kg⁻¹ DM). The greatest improvements (similar at both temperatures) were for L, N and H of 7.3, 7.2 and 3.9 points for in situ and of 10.6, 11.3 and 6.3 points for cellulase digestibilities, respectively. Water solubility also increased with duration of treatment and level of ammonia (P < 0.01) and was greater at 80°C than at 30°C. Urea treatment significantly improved (P < 0.01) digestibilities and water solubility but the doubling of treatment duration had no influence. The degree of ureolysis was only 50 to 60%. Ammonia and urea treatments considerably increased (P < 0.01) nitrogen content.Treatment with 60 g NH₃ kg⁻¹ DM induced a decrease in ethanol insoluble residue content, which was significant (P < 0.01 for L and N, P < 0.05 for H) at 80°C but not at 30°C, and was greater for L and N than for H (about 12 and 5 points, respectively). This decrease was essentially due to solubilisation of hemicelluloses (− 15%) and uronic acids (− 26%). Thus, at 30°C, the chemical solubility of the cell wall was lower than at 80°C for the same total increase in microbial degradation. This result indicates that other phenomena are involved, such as an increase in cell wall porosity and consequently improved accessibility of cell wall polysaccharides to glycolytic enzymes.     

EFFECT OF SODIUM AND NITRATE ON GROWTH OF ANABAENA FLOS-AQUAE (CYANOPHYTA)1

The growth response of a nitrogen fixing cyanobacterium, Anabaena flos-aquae (Lyng) Bréb., to sodium and nitrate was examined in batch culture under controlled laboratory conditions. Sodium (range 0-12 mg Na⁺· L^-1) enhanced growth of the cyanobacterium under nitrate-sufficient (5.7 mg NO³-N · L^-1) but not nitrate-limited (0.49 mg NO³- N · L^-1) conditions. The magnitude of the growth response was related to the nutritional history of the culture. No significant effect of sodium on nitrate utilization was observed. The increase in ambient sodium levels in many lakes may provide a competitive advantage to cyanobacteria.     

Changes in nitrogen cycling and retention processes in soils under spruce forests along a nitrogen enrichment gradient in Germany

A network of long-term monitoring sites on nitrogen (N) input and output of forests across Germany showed that a number of Germany's forests are subject to or are experiencing N saturation and that spruce (Picea abies) stands have high risk. Our study was aimed at (1) quantifying the changes in gross rates of microbial N cycling and retention processes in forest soils along an N enrichment gradient and (2) relating the changes in soil N dynamics to N losses. We selected spruce sites representing an N enrichment gradient (indicated by leaching : throughfall N ratios) ranging from 0.04–0.13 (low N),≤0.26 (intermediate N enrichment) to≥0.42 (highly N enriched). To our knowledge, our study is the first to report on mechanistic changes in gross rates of soil N cycling and abiotic NO₃⁻ retention under ambient N enrichment gradient. Gross N mineralization, NH₄⁺ immobilization, gross nitrification, and NO₃⁻ immobilization rates increased up to intermediate N enrichment level and somewhat decreased at highly N-enriched condition. The turnover rates of NH₄⁺ and microbial N pools increased while the turnover rates of the NO₃⁻ pool decreased across the N enrichment gradient. Abiotic immobilization of NH₄⁺ did not differ across sites and was lower than that of NO₃⁻. Abiotic NO₃⁻ immobilization decreased across the N enrichment gradient. Microbial assimilation and turnover appeared to contribute largely to the retention of NH₄⁺. The increasing NO₃⁻ deposition and decreasing turnover rates of the NO₃⁻ pool, combined with decreasing abiotic NO₃⁻ retention, possibly contributed to increasing NO₃⁻ leaching and gaseous emissions across the N enrichment gradient. The empirical relationships of changes in microbial N cycling across the N enrichment gradient may be integrated in models used to predict responses of forest ecosystems (e.g. spruce) to increasing N deposition.     

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.