Response of potatoes to nitrogen concentrations differ with nitrogen forms

J Plant Nutr. 1998;21(4):615-23. doi: 10.1080/01904169809365429.

Abstract

Two 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.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Biomass*
  • Culture Media
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Minerals / metabolism
  • Nitrates / pharmacology*
  • Nitrogen / pharmacology*
  • Plant Roots / drug effects
  • Plant Roots / growth & development
  • Plant Shoots / drug effects
  • Plant Shoots / growth & development
  • Plant Shoots / metabolism
  • Plant Stems / drug effects
  • Plant Stems / growth & development
  • Plant Stems / metabolism
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Solanum tuberosum / drug effects*
  • Solanum tuberosum / growth & development
  • Solanum tuberosum / metabolism

Substances

  • Culture Media
  • Minerals
  • Nitrates
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
  • Nitrogen