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IN VITRO ALLELOPATHIC INHIBITION OF NITRIFICATION BY BALSAM POPLAR AND BALSAM FIR
Author(s) -
Thibault J.Robert,
Fortin J.Andre,
Smirnoff Wladimir A.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1982.tb13307.x
Subject(s) - balsam , abies balsamea , nitrification , botany , biology , ammonium , allelopathy , horticulture , germination , chemistry , nitrogen , organic chemistry
A soil percolation apparatus was used to study the effect of plant extracts on nitrification. Foliar leachates, leaf extracts, and bud extracts of balsam fir ( Abies balsamea ) and balsam poplar ( Populus balsamifera ) were added to the ammonium percolation solution. Color tests and quantitative measurement of residual ammonium and formed nitrate were applied. Foliar leachates of balsam fir strongly inhibited nitrification; leachates of balsam poplar were slightly less inhibitory. Balsam fir needle and balsam poplar dormant bud extracts (5% w/v) completely prevented the oxidation of ammonium. The same estracts (2% w/v) still prevented the oxidation of ammonium to nitrate to a large extent. Once again balsam fir extracts inhibited the process more strongly than balsam poplar. No evidence was obtained for the presence of a specific inhibitor of nitrifier microorganisms.