Ion Balance, Uptake, and Transport Processes in N2-Fixing and Nitrate- and Urea-Dependent Soybean Plants

The objective of this study was to examine the influence of N(2) fixation and NO(3) (-)-N and urea-N assimilation on ion balance, uptake, and transport processes in soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.).Inoculated plants were grown in Perlite supplied daily with nutrient solutions which contained zero-N, 10 and 20 millimolar NO(3) (-)-N, and 10 and 20 millimolar urea-N, and they were sampled 41, 76, and 151 days after transplanting. Total uptake of inorganic cations and anions was determined by analysis of tissue for K(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Na(+), total N from NO(3) (-), total S, H(2)PO(4) (-), and Cl(-). Differences in total inorganic cations (C) and inorganic anions (A) in plant tissue were used to estimate total carboxylate content.Internal OH(-) generation resulting from excess cation uptake (net H(+) excretion) by the roots accounted for more than 89% of the carboxylate accumulation in N(2)- and urea-fed plants, while OH(-) generation resulting from SO(4) (2-) reduction accounted for less than 11%. Shoots contained over 89% of the total plant carboxylate content. Malate balanced about 75% of the excess inorganic cationic charge of the xylem sap; allantoate and aspartate balanced most of the remaining charge. These results indicate that carboxylates (primarily malate) are synthesized in roots of N(2)- and urea-fed plants and transported to the shoots in the xylem to maintain charge balance. The high malate concentration resulted in the C/N weight ratio of xylem sap from N(2)-fed plants being >2.0, even though 83% of the N was transported as allantoin and allantoic acid which have a C/N ratio of 1.0. The data emphasize that C and N content of N compounds should not be the sole basis for calculating the C/N weight ratio of xylem sap.The C-to-A uptake ratio for plants supplied 10 millimolar NO(3) (-) ranged from 1.24 to 1.57 during development, indicating that internal OH(-) was generated both by excess cation uptake and by NO(3) (-) and SO(4) (2-) reduction. The C-to-A uptake ratio for 20 millimolar NO(3) (-) -fed plants ranged from 0.86 to 0.96 during development, indicating a small net OH(-) efflux from the roots for support of excess anion uptake. On a seasonal basis, only 15% of the OH(-) generated during NO(3) (-) and SO(4) (2-) reduction was associated with OH(-) efflux (excess anion uptake), while 85% was associated with carboxylate accumulation. The malate concentration in xylem sap from plants supplied 20 millimolar NO(3) (-) was only one-third that of N(2)- and urea-fed plants; however, it did balance 75% of the excess inorganic cationic charge. Potassium, recycling to accommodate excess anion uptake by 20 millimolar NO(3)-fed plants, was calculated to involve at most 17% of the total K(+) absorbed during the 41- to 76-day growth interval.