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Title: The carbon bonus of organic nitrogen enhances nitrogen use efficiency of plants: The carbon bonus of organic nitrogen

Journal Article · · Plant, Cell and Environment
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.12772· OSTI ID:1335709
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [4];  [5]
  1. Ecosystems Services and Management Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, A-2361 Laxenburg Austria, Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 83 Umeå Sweden
  2. Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 85 Umeå Sweden
  3. Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 83 Umeå Sweden
  4. Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University, Durham NC 27708 USA
  5. Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 85 Umeå Sweden, Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 83 Umeå Sweden
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The importance of organic nitrogen (N) for plant nutrition and productivity is increasingly being recognized. Here we show that it is not only the availability in the soil that matters, but also the effects on plant growth. The chemical form of N taken up, whether inorganic (such as nitrate) or organic (such as amino acids), may significantly influence plant shoot and root growth, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). We analysed these effects by synthesizing results from multiple laboratory experiments on small seedlings (Arabidopsis, poplar, pine and spruce) based on a tractable plant growth model. A key point is that the carbon cost of assimilating organic N into proteins is lower than that of inorganic N, mainly because of its carbon content. This carbon bonus makes it more beneficial for plants to take up organic than inorganic N, even when its availability to the roots is much lower – up to 70% lower for Arabidopsis seedlings. At equal growth rate, root:shoot ratio was up to three times higher and nitrogen productivity up to 20% higher for organic than inorganic N, which both are factors that may contribute to higher NUE in crop production.

Research Organization:
Duke Univ., Durham, NC (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER). Biological Systems Science Division; Swedish Research Council (SRC); European Research Council (ERC)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0006967; ERC-2013-SyG-610028
OSTI ID:
1335709
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1344139; OSTI ID: 1425469
Journal Information:
Plant, Cell and Environment, Journal Name: Plant, Cell and Environment Vol. 40 Journal Issue: 1; ISSN 0140-7791
Publisher:
WileyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 66 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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