In the present study, we investigated whether growth and main nutrient ion concentrations of cabbage (Brassica campestris L.) could be increased when plants were subjected to different NH4^+/NO3- ratios. Cabbage se...In the present study, we investigated whether growth and main nutrient ion concentrations of cabbage (Brassica campestris L.) could be increased when plants were subjected to different NH4^+/NO3- ratios. Cabbage seedlings were grown in a greenhouse in nutrient solutions with five NH4^+/NO3- ratios (1:0; 0.75:0.25; 0.5:0.5; 0.25:0.75; and 0:1). The results showed that cabbage growth was reduced by 87% when the proportion of NH4^+-N in the nutrient solution was more than 75% compared with a ratio NH4^+/NO3- of 0.5:0.5 35 d after transplanting, suggesting a possible toxicity due to the accumulation of a large amount of free ammonia in the leaves. When the NH4+/NO3- ratio was 0.5:0.5, fresh seedling weight, root length, and H2PO4- (P), K^+, Ca^2+, and Mg^2+ concentrations were all higher than those in plants grown under other NH4^+/NO3- ratios. The nitrate concentration in the leaves was the lowest in plants grown at 0.5: 0.5 NH4^+/NO3-. The present results indicate that an appropriate NH4^+/NO3- ratio improves the absorption of other nutrients and maintains a suitable proportion of N assimilation and storage that should benefit plant growth and the quality of cabbage as a vegetable.展开更多
基金Supported by the State Key Basic Research and Development Plan of China (2006CB403406), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (50339030, 50579066) and Hong Kong Research Grants Council (HKBU 2149/04M HKBU 2165/05M).
文摘In the present study, we investigated whether growth and main nutrient ion concentrations of cabbage (Brassica campestris L.) could be increased when plants were subjected to different NH4^+/NO3- ratios. Cabbage seedlings were grown in a greenhouse in nutrient solutions with five NH4^+/NO3- ratios (1:0; 0.75:0.25; 0.5:0.5; 0.25:0.75; and 0:1). The results showed that cabbage growth was reduced by 87% when the proportion of NH4^+-N in the nutrient solution was more than 75% compared with a ratio NH4^+/NO3- of 0.5:0.5 35 d after transplanting, suggesting a possible toxicity due to the accumulation of a large amount of free ammonia in the leaves. When the NH4+/NO3- ratio was 0.5:0.5, fresh seedling weight, root length, and H2PO4- (P), K^+, Ca^2+, and Mg^2+ concentrations were all higher than those in plants grown under other NH4^+/NO3- ratios. The nitrate concentration in the leaves was the lowest in plants grown at 0.5: 0.5 NH4^+/NO3-. The present results indicate that an appropriate NH4^+/NO3- ratio improves the absorption of other nutrients and maintains a suitable proportion of N assimilation and storage that should benefit plant growth and the quality of cabbage as a vegetable.