Effects of Nitrogen Form on Root Activity and Nitrogen Uptake Kinetics in <i>Camellia oleifera</i> Seedlings: Fid-Bau Portal

Effects of Nitrogen Form on Root Activity and Nitrogen Uptake Kinetics in Camellia oleifera Seedlings

Rui Wang / Zhilong He / Zhen Zhang / Ting Xv / Xiangnan Wang / Caixia Liu / Yongzhong Chen

This study investigated the effects of nitrogen form on root activity and nitrogen uptake kinetics of Camellia oleifera Abel. seedlings, providing a scientific basis for improving nitrogen use efficiency and scientific fertilization in C. oleifera production. Taking one-year-old C. oleifera cultivar ‘Xianglin 27’ seedlings as subjects, 8 mmol·L⁻¹ of nitrogen in varied forms ( ${NO}_{3}^{-}$ : ${NH}_{4}^{+}$ = 0:0, 10:0, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7, 0:10) was applied in this study as the treatment conditions to investigate the effects of different nitrogen forms on root activity and nitrogen uptake kinetics in C. oleifera seedlings. Comparing the performance of nutrient solutions with different ${NO}_{3}^{-}$ : ${NH}_{4}^{+}$ ratios, the results showed that a mixed nitrogen source improved the root activity of C. oleifera seedlings based on total absorption area, active absorption area, active absorption area ratio, specific surface area, and active specific surface area. When ${NO}_{3}^{-}$ : ${NH}_{4}^{+}$ = 5:5, the total absorption area and active absorption area of the seedling roots reached the maximum. The results of uptake kinetic parameters showed that Vmax ${NH}_{4}^{+}$ > Vmax ${NO}_{3}^{-}$ and Km ${NO}_{3}^{-}$ > Km ${NH}_{4}^{+}$ , indicating that the uptake potential of ammonium–nitrogen by C. oleifera seedlings is greater than that of nitrate–nitrogen. The conclusion was that compared to either ammonium– or nitrate–nitrogen, the mixed nitrogen source was better for promoting the root activity of C. oleifera seedlings, and the best nitrate/ammonium ratio was 5:5.