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09:13
Hydroponics: A Versatile System to Study Nutrient Allocation and Plant Responses to Nutrient Availability and Exposure to Toxic Elements
Published on: July 13, 2016
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Cadmium accumulation is enhanced by ammonium compared to nitrate in two hyperaccumulators, without affecting
Miaomiao Cheng1, Peng Wang2, Peter M Kopittke2
1Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia.
Journal of Experimental Botany
|July 8, 2016
Summary
Ammonium (NH4+) fertilization enhances cadmium (Cd) phytoextraction more than nitrate (NO3-) by increasing plant uptake and translocation. This nitrogen form boosts Cd accumulation in shoots, offering an effective remediation strategy.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Plant Biology
- Biogeochemistry
Background:
- Nitrogen fertilization is crucial for improving cadmium (Cd) phytoextraction efficiency.
- Limited understanding exists regarding the impact of nitrogen (N) form on Cd phytoextraction mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of ammonium (NH4+) versus nitrate (NO3-) on Cd accumulation, translocation, and speciation in Carpobrotus rossii and Solanum nigrum.
- To elucidate the role of N form in plant-based Cd remediation strategies.
Main Methods:
- Plants were cultivated in nutrient solutions with varying Cd concentrations and supplied with either NH4+ or NO3-.
- Cd uptake, translocation, and accumulation were quantified.
- Synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy was employed to analyze Cd speciation.
Main Results:
- Shoot Cd accumulation was 30% higher with NH4+ compared to NO3-.
- Carpobrotus rossii exhibited three times greater Cd accumulation than Solanum nigrum.
- Cd speciation was not affected by N form but varied significantly between plant species and tissues.
Conclusions:
- Ammonium (NH4+) enhances shoot Cd accumulation by promoting Cd uptake and translocation, not by altering Cd speciation.
- NH4+ fertilization presents a promising approach to increase Cd phytoextraction efficiency.
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