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NO3−/NH4+ ratios affect nutritional homeostasis and production of Tanzania guinea grass under Cu toxicity

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Abstract

Nitrogen (N) can alleviate metal toxicity. However, as of yet, there have been no studies showing the efficacy of NO3−/NH4+ in mitigating Cu toxicity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the Cu toxicity on the nutritional and productive attributes of Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania as well as the role of NO3− and NH4+ ratios in nutritional homeostasis. The experiment was conducted using 3 × 4 factorial treatments arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The treatments were three NO3−/NH4+ ratios (100/0, 70/30, and 50/50) and four Cu rates (0.3, 250, 500, and 1000 μmol L−1) in nutrient solution. Copper concentrations in the diagnostic leaves (DL) were highest in plants grown under 70/30 NO3−/NH4+ ratios and a Cu rate of 1000 μmol L−1. In this combination, it was observed that DL had higher concentrations of NH4+, greater glutamine synthetase activity, lower chlorophyll concentration (SPAD value), and lower shoot dry mass, suggesting high disorders of nutritional homeostasis. Plants receiving N in the form of NO3− and 1000 Cu μmol L−1 showed that DL had lower concentrations of Cu, higher concentration of chlorophyll, higher NO3− concentration, higher nitrate reductase activity, and higher NO3− accumulation in the roots, suggesting a reduction in disorders of nutritional homeostasis. The disorders on mineral uptake, N assimilation, and biomass production caused by Cu toxicity are shown to be affected by NO3−/NH4+ ratios, and N supply via NO3− allowed for better homeostasis of the forage grass.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank: FAPESP for the fellowship granted to the first author in the second year of his Master’s program (grant no. 2015/20625-0); Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for the fellowship granted to the first author in the first year of his Master’s program and to the third author (grant no. 306403/2013-7), and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for the fellowship granted during the first 2 months to the first author in his Master’s program, and to the second author.

Funding

This study was financed by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP, grant no. 2015/20624-4).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Soil Science Department, University of São Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, Pádua Dias 11, Piracicaba, São Paulo, 13418-900, Brazil

    João Cardoso de Souza Junior & Francisco Antonio Monteiro

  2. Crop Science Department, University of São Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, Pádua Dias 11, Piracicaba, São Paulo, 13418-900, Brazil

    Roberta Corrêa Nogueirol

Authors
  1. João Cardoso de Souza Junior
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  2. Roberta Corrêa Nogueirol
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  3. Francisco Antonio Monteiro
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Correspondence to Francisco Antonio Monteiro.

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Responsible editor: Elena Maestri

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de Souza Junior, J.C., Nogueirol, R.C. & Monteiro, F.A. NO3−/NH4+ ratios affect nutritional homeostasis and production of Tanzania guinea grass under Cu toxicity. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 14083–14096 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1541-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1541-1

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