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Effects of N source on proton excretion, ionic balance and growth ofAlnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertner: comparison of N2 fixation with single and mixed sources of NO3 and NH4

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Summary

Non-nodulatedalnus glutinosa plants were grown for 6 weeks in nutrient solutions using 3 combined-N treatments (NO3; NO3/NH4; and NH4) at a total N level of 4 meq.l−1, and growth was ccmpared with nodulated plants at zero N (N2 fixation). Of the combined-N sources, 100 per cent NH4 resulted in the highest dry matter yields when the solution pH was adjusted daily atc. 6. The dry matter yield was lowest with NO3.

During the first 3 weeks, the yield of the N2-fixing plants was as high as that of the NH4 plants, but fell relatively behind during the second 3-week period. These effects could be attributed to higher initial N contents and higher shoot:root ratios, respectively, in the N2-fixing plants. Specific rates of N acquisition in the root were of a comparable order of magnitude for the combined-N and zero-N treatments.

When NO3 was taken up, it was almost completely reduced in the roots. Regardless of N source there was a large excess of cations (C) relative to inorganic anions (A) in the plants, which was presumed to be balanced by an equivalent amount of organic anions (C-A). The relatively small differences in generation of organic anions for the various modes of N supply indicated the relative importance of the proton pump when NH4 or N2 was the N source. Proton or hydroxyl-ion effluxes, calculated on the basis of plant analyses, were generally in good agreement with measured excretion values. The acidity generation with N2 fixation amounted toc. 0.5 meq H+.mmol−1 Norg, which was distinctly higher than the range of 0.1–0.2 mentioned by Raven and Smith43 for dinitrogen-fixing plants.

Without pH adjustment, specific rates of cation uptake and carboxylate generation were strongly depressed as the acidity increased, when NO3/NH4, NH4 and N2 were the N sources. Growth ofAlnus glutinosa appeared to be still normal at a pH ofc. 2.8. During the final 3 weeks, only the NH4 plants ceased growing at a pH of 2.6.

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  1. Department of Dune Research, Institute for Ecological Research, 3233 EG, Oostvoorne, The Netherlands

    Sep R. Troelstra, Kees van Dijk & Tjeerd Blacquière

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Troelstra, S.R., van Dijk, K. & Blacquière, T. Effects of N source on proton excretion, ionic balance and growth ofAlnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertner: comparison of N2 fixation with single and mixed sources of NO3 and NH4 . Plant Soil 84, 361–385 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02275475

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