NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Response of potatoes to nitrogen concentrations differ with nitrogen formsTwo separate experiments were conducted to investigate plant growth and mineral composition of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) at varied solution concentrations of nitrate (NO3-) and ammonium (NH4+). Each experiment evaluated five nitrogen (N) concentrations of 0.5, 2, 4, 8, and 12 mM, which were maintained with a non-recirculating nutrient film system in controlled environment. Plants were harvested on day 42 with NO3-; and day 35 with NH4+ after transplanting of tissue culture plantlets, and growth measurements were taken as leaf area, tuber number, and dry weights of different parts. With NO3-, plant growth was greatest and similar at 2, 4, and 8 mM of N whereas with NH4+, plant growth was best only at 2 and 4 mM of N. At 12 mM of N, plants exhibited interveinal ammonium toxicity with NH4+ nutrition, but healthy growth appearance with NO3- nutrition. With either N form, total N concentrations in tissues tended to increase with increased N concentrations, and tissue phosphorus (P) concentrations were reduced at 0.5 and 2 mM of N. Tissue concentrations of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S) changed only slightly at particular N concentrations, yet changed substantially with different N forms. The data indicate that the optimal ranges of N concentrations in both solution and tissues are wider and higher with NO3- than with NH4+ nutrition, and thus a careful control of NH4+ concentrations is necessary to minimize possible ammonium toxicity to potato plants.
Document ID
20040089300
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Cao, W.
(Ministry of Agriculture Nanjing Agricultural University People's Republic of China)
Tibbitts, T. W.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1998
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of plant nutrition
Volume: 21
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0190-4167
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Discipline Life Support Systems
Non-NASA Center

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available