Growth, photosynthesis, and nutrient uptake in wheat are affected by differences in nitrogen levels and forms and potassium supply

Sci Rep. 2019 Feb 4;9(1):1248. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-37838-3.

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) are essential macronutrients for plants growth; however, the mechanism by which K mediates negative effects on ammonium-sensitive plants is still poorly understood. We hypothesized that K supplies may enhance antagonistic ammonium stress while improving nitrate nutrition function, which wheat seedlings were grown in sand culture in the presence of two N forms (ammonium; nitrate) supplied at two rates (2, 10 mmol L-1) and three K levels (0.5, 5, 15 mmol L-1). We found that a high N rate increased plant biomass under nitrate nutrition, while it had a negative effect under ammonium nutrition. Compared with nitrate, biomass was depressed by 54% or 85% for low or high N rate under ammonium. This resulted in a reduction in gas exchange parameters and a subsequent decrease in growth variables and nutrient uptake, whereas these parameters increased significantly with increasing K levels. Moreover, in principal components analysis, these variations were highly clustered under nitrate nutrition and highly separated under ammonium nutrition. Our study shows a clear positive interaction between K and N, suggesting that high K supply relieves ammonium stress while improving growth vigor under nitrate nutrition by enhancing nutrient uptake and assimilate production in wheat plants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ammonium Compounds / metabolism
  • Biomass
  • Nitrates / metabolism
  • Nitrogen / metabolism*
  • Photosynthesis
  • Potassium / metabolism*
  • Seedlings / growth & development
  • Seedlings / physiology*
  • Triticum / growth & development
  • Triticum / physiology*

Substances

  • Ammonium Compounds
  • Nitrates
  • Nitrogen
  • Potassium