Molybdenum‐induced effects on nitrogen uptake efficiency and recovery in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using ¹⁵N‐labeled nitrogen with different N forms and rates

Abstract

Background: Molybdenum (Mo) is an essential microelement for higher plants and plays a significant role in nitrogen (N) metabolism, which includes nitrate reduction, assimilation, and efficient N acquisition. Its deficiency in soil may induce the reduction of N uptake and wheat yield. Aims: We aimed to explore the Mo‐induced effects on N uptake efficiency and recovery in Mo‐inefficient winter wheat cultivar using a 15N isotope tracer under different N forms (Nf) and N rates (Nr). Methods: The experiment was conducted in greenhouse conditions, and the treatments included three Nf in the form of 15NH4Cl as sole NH4+, Ca (15NO3)2 as sole NO3−, and 15NH415NO3) under two Nr [low (L) 0.05 and high (H) 0.25 g N kg–1 soil], with (+Mo) in form of [(NH4)6Mo7O24 ∙ 4H2O] and without (–Mo) Mo application. The plant biomass, Mo content, total N uptake, fertilizer 15N uptake, soil N uptake, as well as N uptake, agronomic and physiological efficiency were evaluated. Furthermore, the fertilizer 15N recovery in various wheat organs was also studied. Results: The results revealed that Mo application increased N uptake efficiency in wheat to 38.26%, 68.24%, and 71.53% when the plants are treated with low rates of NH4+, NO3−, and NH4NO3, respectively. While at a high N rate, N uptake efficiency increases to 46.26% and 45.34% in the case of NO3− and NH4NO3 treatments, respectively, and it was slightly reduced to 10.84% when plants were supplied with NH4+ form. Mo supply increased 15N recovery from fertilizer in grain organ under low N rate with all supplied Nf, that is, NH4+, NO3−, and NH4NO3, while at high N rate, Mo enhanced 15N recovery in grains organ in case of NO3− and NH4NO3 forms. Conclusion: This study shows that Mo fertilization may be a promising strategy to improve N uptake efficiency and recovery in wheat when nitrate is the main N form.

Nano-Molybdenum is a valuable alternative to non-nano-Molybdenum fertilizers for winter wheat grown in acidic soil

“…1). Our non-nano-Mo application results were consistent with earlier studies that found that non-nano-Mo applications increased the Mo content of winter wheat (Wu et al, 2017(Wu et al, , 2018Imran et al, 2019;Moussa et al, 2021).…”

Influence of molybdenum application on soil nutrient status and uptake by cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.) in an Acid Alfisol soil

“…Molybdenum cofactors participate in the active site of nitrate reductase, which plays an important role in nitrate assimilation and might have improved the utilization rate of N fertilizer (Li et al, 2017). A similar increase in the nitrogen uptake due to the Mo application was reported in many other crops i.e., broccoli, hairy vetch, lentil, mungbean and wheat (Ahmed et al, 2011;Alam et al, 2015;Pawar and Tambe, 2016;Islam et al, 2018;Hossain et al, 2020;Qudus et al, 2020;Moussa et al, 2021).…”

Post-anthesis dry matter and nitrogen accumulation, partitioning, and translocation in maize under different nitrate–ammonium ratios in Northwestern China

“…Nitrogen is one of the most important nutrients that affect plant growth, development, and yield ( Sun et al., 2014 ). It was found that two main forms of N were used by plants under natural conditions: nitrite N (NO 3 − -N) and ammonia N (NH 4 + -N), although some plants can absorb it in the form of urea or amino acids, while both NH 4 + -N and NO 3 − -N are effective and can be directly absorbed by plants ( Isaiah et al., 2021 ; Moussa et al., 2021 ). In addition to the application amount, the form of usable N has a significant impact on the growth, photosynthesis, yield, and quality of crops ( Ali et al., 2013 ).…”