EFFECTS OF AMMONIUM AND NITRATE NUTRITION ON THE OSTRICH FERN (Matteuccia struthiopteris)

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Abstract
Plants were grown in controlled environments at 24/18 °C or 18/12 °C light/dark temperatures with 8, 16 or 32 meq/L nitrate or ammonium concentrations in a complete nutrient solution applied twice weekly to perlite rooting medium. Frond length was not affected by any of the treatments. Ammonium nutrition, compared with nitrate, reduced frond fresh and dry weights, water use, frond water potential, frond diffusive conductance and foliar concentrations of Ca and carbohydrates. Ammonium N increased the foliar concentration of inorganic NH4+, organic N, total N, P, K, and Mn. Increasing N concentration in the nutrient solution had no significant effect on dry weight, but increased foliar concentrations of N (inorganic and organic) and decreased fresh weight, fronds per plant, water use, frond diffusive conductance and foliar concentrations of Mn. The higher temperature decreased frond dry weight and foliar carbohydrate concentrations but increased frond number in the first emergence and foliar concentrations of several nutrients.

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