Varietal differences in uptake and utilization of nitrogen and other macro‐elements in seedlings of barley, Hordeum vulgare

Abstract

Growth and uptake of N, P, S, K, Ca and Mg in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were studied in water culture using young plants of 17 cultivars. Large varietal differences were obtained in dry weight production and mineral accumulation. The differences were not the same for plants grown in high‐ and low‐salt media. For plants grown under both conditions there was a good correlation between dry weight production and total N content. Total shoot contents of K and Ca were closely correlated with shoot dry weight. Utilization of P and S in high‐ and low‐salt plants and Mg in low‐salt plants was variable in relation to dry weight production in both types of nutrient conditions. The correlation between dry weight and total content of Mg in high‐salt plants was good. These differences in mineral economy between young barley plants were partly caused by varietal differences in relative growth rate, and in high‐salt seedlings also by differences in seed content of N. The significance of root size, and of uptake, root‐shoot partitioning and use‐efficiency of specific elements differed; all four factors were important for P and S, but had varying impact on K, Mg and Ca. For N, differences in root size and ion accumulation were the most important factors causing varietal variation in mineral nutrition. – In a special experiment seedlings of barley were transferred to N‐free nutrient solution after six days of adequate N supply. There was no significant varietal differences in use‐efficiency ratio of N. Root/shoot partitioning of N was unaffected.

Legumes intercropped with spring barley contribute to increased biomass production and carry-over effects

“…Many studies have been conducted using barley to elucidate the factors controlling N uptake. It has been shown that different yield response in barley is linked to the crop's varying N uptake and its N use efficiency (Perby & Jensén 1983; Tillman et al . 1991; Delogu et al .…”

Influence of the nitrogen level on root growth and morphology of two potato varieties differing in nitrogen acquisition

“…Such genotypical differences may be due to both utilization efficiency (Moll et al, 1982), i.e. dry matter production per g nitrogen taken up, and nitrogen acquisition by the roots (Perby and Jensen, 1983). Especially where nitrogen availability is low, nitrogen acquisition appears to be by far the more important factor (Anderson et al, 1984).…”