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Effects of enhanced atmospheric ammonia on physiological characteristics of maize( Zea mays L.)
Author(s) -
Chen Xiaoli,
Li Shiqing
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.6144
Subject(s) - photosynthesis , stomatal conductance , chlorophyll fluorescence , shoot , zea mays , chemistry , nitrogen , ammonia , quenching (fluorescence) , biomass (ecology) , agronomy , chlorophyll , horticulture , fluorescence , biology , biochemistry , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , physics
BACKGROUND Elevated atmospheric NH 3 may affect photosynthesis rates and biomass production of crops and the effect may be responsible for the soil nitrogen (N) levels. Plants were exposed to 0 and 1000 nL L −1 with and without N (+N and − N) in open‐top chambers ( OTCs ) to investigate effects of atmospheric NH 3 on photosynthetic and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of maize plants.RESULTS At two N levels, NH 3 exposure at 1000 nL L −1 led to an increase in plant height, biomass production, net photosynthetic rates ( P n ) and stomatal conductance ( g s ) compared to ambient NH 3 . Exposure to 1000 nL L −1 NH 3 resulted in a significantly higher photochemical quenching ( q p ) and non‐photochemical quenching ( q np ), while minimal fluorescence ( F o ), maximum fluorescence ( F m ) and maximum photochemical efficiency ( F v / F m ) were not affected. For shoots, N concentrations for − N‐1000 and + N‐1000 treatments were 49–50% and 26–30% higher, respectively, than those of − N‐0 and + N‐0 treatments.CONCLUSION No visible damage was observed and plants growing on low soil N took up more leaf‐derived N than those fertilised at higher N level. Therefore, atmospheric NH 3 can be considered as a quick fertiliser for crops and should be estimated in a further study with soil N fertilisers in order to reduce the dosage. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry