EFFECT OF AMMONIUM AND NITRATE-NITROGEN ON GROWTH AND CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION OF RYE (SECALE-CEREALE L)

Rye was grown in Tillycorthie and Cruden Bay soil to compare the effic iency of nitrogen as MH(4)Cl and NaNO3 in the presence and absence of potassium ethylxanthate (KEtX). Application of N caused a highly signi ficant increase in dry matter yield. KEtX produced differential signif icant increase in N, Fe and Mn content and uptake and decrease in P le vel and uptake. N rate too improved uptake of N but reduced P content significanly. Sources of N showed no significant differences either in dry matter yield or nutrient content. Among the interactions only soi l x KEtX and soil x KEtX x N-rate stimulated N content and uptake sign ificantly. KEtX was found to be ineffective to inhibit the oxidation o f NH4N. However, the treatments showed no significant change of Ca, Mg , Na and K in plant tissues.