Uptake and distribution of combined nitrogen and its incorporation into seeds of nodulated soybean plants as revealed by15N studies

Abstract
Pot experiments were carried out with soybean plants grown in N-free solution and supplied with NO3 - or NH4 + before 15N administration, in order to study the uptake, distribution, and redistribution of absorbed nitrogen. To determine the utilization and incorporation of combined nitrogen in the seed yield, as influenced by the N form and application time, another series of experiments was conducted in which plants were grown in N-free solution before 15N feeding at pod setting (P.S.) or initial pod filling (I.P.F.), as 15NO3 - or 15NH4 +. By comparing the nitrate-treated plants (Nt-plant) with the ammonium ones (Am-plant), and P.S. with I.P.F., the following results were obtained.