Ms. Fernandes et Rop. Rossiello, MINERAL NITROGEN IN PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND PLANT NUTRITION, Critical reviews in plant sciences, 14(2), 1995, pp. 111-148
Nitrogen (N) nutrition enhances metabolic processes that influences th
e physicochemical environment at the soil-root interface, modifies rhi
zosphere conditions, interferes with the uptake of cations and anions,
and enhances or represses the activity of several enzyme systems. Als
o, it affects growth patterns, protein content, and protein quality of
seeds. Ammonium (NH4)-N nutrition increases anion uptake, free amino-
N/protein ratios, and acidity of root free space; it reduces carbohydr
ate levels in plant tissues. NO3-N nutrition results in higher cation
uptake, higher carbohydrate content in tissues, and alkalinization of
root free space. N-Assimilation interferes with the allocation of dry
matter and energy, which causes different growth rates of plant parts.
In this article we review the effects of mineral-N nutrition on uptak
e of cations and anions, activity of enzymes, growth patterns of roots
and shoots, and water use efficiency, protein content, and protein qu
ality of seeds.