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Effect of nitrogen form on the rhizosphere dynamics and uptake of cadmium and zinc by the hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens

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Abstract

The effect of N form (NO3 − versus NH4 +) on growth and uptake of Cd and Zn by the hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens (Ganges ecotype) was investigated in hydroponic and rhizobox experiments. In the hydroponic experiments, NO3 − or NH4 + was supplied to plants with the pH of the nutrient solution being unbuffered or buffered at around 6.0. A moderately contaminated soil was used in the rhizobox experiment with or without additions of NO3 −, NH4 + or NH4 + + DCD (dicyanodiamide, a nitrification inhibitor). A higher biomass was obtained when N was supplied as NO3 − in both experiments, indicating that T. caerulescens prefers NO3 − over NH4 +. In the hydroponic experiments, supplying NO3 − resulted in a doubling of Cd concentration in the shoots compared with the NH4 + treatment, regardless whether solution pH was buffered or not. The form of N also had a noticeable effect on root Zn concentrations. In the rhizosphere box experiment, rhizosphere pH was markedly influenced by the N treatment. The acidification in the NH4 + and NH4 + + DCD treatments increased the concentrations of extractable Cd and Zn, both of which showed a considerable depletion in the rhizosphere. However, total uptake of Cd and Zn were highest in the NO3 − treatment, despite the fact that concentrations of extractable Cd and Zn in the rhizosphere were the lowest in this treatment. The results showed that supplying N as NO3 − promoted growth and phytoextraction of Cd and Zn by T. caerulescens compared with NH4 +.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Changjiang Scholars Programme and the Innovative Research Team in the University Scheme (IRT0511) and the “863 Project” (2007AA061001) for financial support. Rothamsted Research receives grant-aided support from the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions of Ministry of Education, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100094, China

    H. L. Xie, R. F. Jiang & F. S. Zhang

  2. Soil Science Department, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, UK

    S. P. McGrath & F. J. Zhao

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  1. H. L. Xie
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  2. R. F. Jiang
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  3. F. S. Zhang
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  4. S. P. McGrath
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  5. F. J. Zhao
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Correspondence to R. F. Jiang.

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Responsible Editor: Juan Barcelo.

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Xie, H.L., Jiang, R.F., Zhang, F.S. et al. Effect of nitrogen form on the rhizosphere dynamics and uptake of cadmium and zinc by the hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens . Plant Soil 318, 205–215 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-008-9830-y

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