Effects of Nitrogen Forms on the Growth and Nitrogen Accumulation in Buchloe dactyloides Seedlings

Abstract

Buffalograss [<i>Buchloe dactyloides</i> (Nutt.) Engelm.] has become the most widely cultivated warm-season turfgrass in northern China because of its low-maintenance requirements. Nitrogen (N) can be applied to plants in a range of formulations. However, preference of nitrogen uptake and the effects of N form on plant growth and nitrogen accumulation has not been established in buffalograss. In this study, we evaluated the effects of different inorganic nitrogen forms (NO₃^--N, NH₄⁺-N, and NO₃^--N: NH₄⁺-N = 1:1) on growth and nitrogen accumulation in buffalograss seedlings. Results showed that supply of three N forms significantly increased buffalograss seedlings growth, biomass, and N contents of all plant organs compared with the seedlings receiving free nitrogen. Plants achieved better growth performance when they received nitrate as the sole N source, which stimulated stolon growth and increased the biomass of ramets, spacers, and aboveground and total plant biomass, and also allocated more biomass to ramets and more N to spacers. Meanwhile, those plants supplied with the treatment +NH₄NO₃ displayed a significantly greater N content in the ramet, ¹⁵N abundance, and ¹⁵N accumulation amount in all organs. These data suggest NO₃^--N supplied either singly or in mixture increased vegetative propagation and thus facilitates buffalograss establishment. However, applications of ammonium caused detrimental effects on buffalograss seedlings growth, but +NO₃^- could alleviate NH₄⁺-induced morphological disorders. Thus, recommendations to increase vegetative propagation and biomass accumulation in buffalograss seedlings should consider increasing NO₃^--N in a fertility program and avoiding applications of nitrogen as NH₄⁺-N.