To investigate the partitioning of newly absorbed N derived from NO3 - and NH4 + , 6 mM K15 NO3 or 3 mM (15 NH4 )2 was fed continuously in Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflrum L.) for 7 days. Nitrogen metabolites (nitrate, amino acid, soluble- and insoluble protein) were analyzed at the end of 15 N feeding. Dry weight in shoot, stubble and root was not significantly different between NO3 [-10] and NH4 + feeding. Total nitrogen content in all three organs was significantly higher in NH4 + than NO3 [-10] feeding. Sum on N content in reduced N fractions (amino acids + proteins) in shoot, stubble and roots in NH4 + feeding increased by 13.3, 12.5 and 35.4 %, respectively, compared to NO3 [-10] feeding. The Relative Specific Activity (RSA, percentage of newly absorbed 15 N relative to total N in a sample) values of amino acids and insoluble proteins were significantly higher in NH4 + feeding. Total amount of newly absorbed 15 N in NO3 [-10] and NO3 [-10] feeding was 52.3 and 69.5 mg/plant on dry matter basis, respectively. In both NH4 + and NO3 [-10] grown plants, most of the N was allocated to the shoot, 67.5% in NH4 + feeding and 58.8% NO3 [-10] feeding, respectively. The 15 N amount incorporated in the reduced N compounds (amino acids and proteins) in NH4 + grown plants significantly increased by 74.8% compared to NO3 [-10] grown plants. The increase of the 15 N amount assimilated to amino acids in NH4 + grown plants was remarkably higher in roots as more than 7.25 times compared to NO3 [-10] feeding. These results indicated that Italian ryegrass was much efficiently utilized NH4 + -N for the synthesis of reduced N compounds.reduced N compounds.

• Bok-Rye Lee
• Woo-Jin Jung
• Dae-Hyun Kim
• Soon-Ju Chung
• Kil-Yong Kim
• Tae-Hwan Kim