Premium
SOME FACTORS LIMITING NITRATE UTILIZATION IN ACIDIC AND CALCAREOUS GRASSLANDS
Author(s) -
HAVILL D. C.,
LEE J. A.,
DEFELICE J.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1977.tb02170.x
Subject(s) - calcareous , nitrate , calcareous soils , ammonium , agronomy , nitrate reductase , ammonium nitrate , soil water , limiting , environmental science , grassland , chemistry , botany , ecology , biology , soil science , mechanical engineering , organic chemistry , engineering
SUMMARY Factors limiting nitrate utilization by plants in acidic and calcareous grassland were examined by analysis of control and ammonium‐fertilized plant and soil material from the field. Plants from these habitats maintained their maximum capacity to synthesize nitrate reductase throughout the growing season. In both soil types, nitrate formation was limited by the ammonium supply. Increasing the availability of soil ammonium stimulated the rate of nitrate utilization. However, in plants from calcareous soils, water stress often impaired nitrate reductase activity. Consequently, during periods of drought, nitrate utilization may be higher in acidic soils than in closely adjacent calcareous sites.