The Influence of Ammonium on Nitrate Uptake and Assimilation in 2-Year-Old Ash and Oak Trees - A Tracer-Study with 15N

Abstract

Interactions between ammonium and nitrate as competitive N sources depend on various biotic and abiotic factors. The preference for one of these N sources and the influence of ammonium on nitrate uptake and nitrate reductase activity was investigated in a ¹⁵N labelling experiment using 2-year-old potted plants of ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) and oak (Quercus robur L.) under greenhouse conditions.

Seedlings of both tree species use ammonium and nitrate in equal amounts when both N forms are supplied in a 1:1 ratio (1.5 mM NH₄ ⁺ + 1.5 mM NO₃ ^?), although there is a slight tendency that ammonium is preferred. In both species total N uptake is higher if ammonium and nitrate are supplied simultaneously when compared with uptake of nitrate alone (3 mM nitrate). If nitrate is the sole N source N uptake is only half as high as if ammonium and nitrate are supplied in a ratio of 1:1.

The distribution of nitrate reductase between shoot and roots is not influenced by the N-form: nitrate reductase activity is always highest in the roots of both species under the conditions of this experiment.

Xylem sap analyses showed that both species transport higher concentrations of amino acids than of nitrate from the roots to the shoot. The amino acid composition is independent of the type of N source. Furthermore, ash trees contain more nitrate in the xylem sap than oak trees, reflecting the higher N uptake and the higher nitrate reductase activity in the leaves of this species.     

Oxygen and nitrogen isotopic composition of nitrate in commercial fertilizers,nitric acid,and reagent salts

Nitrate is a key component of synthetic fertilizers that can be beneficial to crop production in agro-ecosystems, but can also cause damage to natural ecosystems if it is exported in large amounts. Stable isotopes, both oxygen and nitrogen, have been used to trace the sources and fate of nitrate in various ecosystems. However, the oxygen isotope composition of synthetic and organic nitrates is poorly constrained. Here, we present a study on the N and O isotope composition of nitrate-based fertilizers. The δ¹⁵N values of synthetic and natural nitrates were 0?±?2?‰ similar to the air N₂ from which they are derived. The δ¹⁸O values of synthetic nitrates were 23?±?3?‰, similar to air O₂, and natural nitrate fertilizer δ¹⁸O values (55?±?5?‰) were similar to those observed in atmospheric nitrate. The Δ¹⁷O values of synthetic fertilizer nitrate were approximately zero following a mass-dependent isotope relationship, while natural nitrate fertilizers had Δ¹⁷O values of 18?±?2?‰ similar to nitrate produced photochemically in the atmosphere. These narrow ranges of values can be used to assess the amount of nitrate arising from fertilizers in mixed systems where more than one nitrate source exists (soil, rivers, and lakes) using simple isotope mixing models.     

Cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate: Reagent for the versatile oxidative functionalization of styrenes using N-hydroxyphthalimide

Cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate was found to be a versatile reagent for the oxidative functionalization of styrenes using N-hydroxyphthalimide and iodine affording three different types of products with oxyphthalimide, nitrate and iodide groups. It was shown that reaction of styrenes with N-hydroxyphthalimide and cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate can be selectively directed to oxynitro-oxyphthalimides and dioxyphthalimides depending on the reaction conditions, in particular a solvent. Reaction of styrenes with iodine under the action of N-hydroxyphthalimide and cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate leads to the formation of iodo-oxyphthalimides.     

Facile synthesis of 1-(arylimino)naphthalen-2(1H)-ones from anilines and 2-naphthols promoted by NaBr/K2S2O8/CAN

An efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of 1-(arylimino)naphthalen-2(1H)-ones through the cascade reaction of anilines and 2-naphthols promoted by NaBr/K₂S₂O₈/Ce(NH₄)₂(NO₃)₆. Using this protocol, a series of 1-(arylimino)naphthalen-2(1H)-ones was obtained in good to excellent yields (17 examples, 70–92% yields). The reactions may proceed through the following steps: bromination of 2-naphthols by in-situ-generated bromine from NaBr and K₂S₂O₈ to afford 1-bromonaphthalen-2-ols, coupling of 1-bromonaphthalen-2-ols with anilines to afford the corresponding amines, and subsequent oxidation of the amines into the products by Ce(NH₄)₂(NO₃)_6. These newly obtained α-imine ketones have great potentials for synthesis of special optical materials bearing naphthalene moiety.     

Regioselective C5 nitration of N-protected indolines using ferric nitrate under mild conditions

An efficient and facile process has been developed for the regioselective C5 nitration of the N-protected indolines using ferric nitrate as the nitrating reagents. The reaction proceeded smoothly in moderate to excellent yields with high efficiency and broad substrate scope under mild conditions. In addition, the synthesized nitration products can be further transformed to 5-nitroindolines and C5-nitroindole derivatives. The method is operationally simple, efficient, and might have potential application in industry production.     

Designing of energetic miktoarm A2B2 star‐shaped polymer by means of click chemistry and ROP techniques

Novel A₂B₂‐type energetic miktoarm star‐shaped copolymers composed of two PGN arms and two PCL arms was synthesized by the combination of ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) and “click” chemistry. Initially, diazido end‐functionalized two‐arm PGN, (PGN)₂‐(N₃)₂, was synthesized by ROP of glycidyl nitrate monomers. Subsequently, (PGN)₂‐(PCL)₂ was obtained from the click reaction between diazido end‐functionalized (PGN)₂‐(N₃)₂ polymers and propargyl‐terminated poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PTPCL). This star copolymer solves problems of PCL (lake of energy) and PGN (low T_g). The Fourier‐transform infrared (FT‐IR), ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) studies revealed that (PGN)₂‐(PCL)₂ was successfully obtained. The thermal behavior of star polymer was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and derivative thermogravimetry. The results show that (PGN)₂‐(PCL)₂ decomposed at two stages. The first stage is seen at 212.6°C which related to degradation of –ONO₂ group and second stage attributed to degradation of PCL group which is seen at 346.1°C.     

Pothole‐rich Ultrathin WO3 Nanosheets that Trigger N≡N Bond Activation of Nitrogen for Direct Nitrate Photosynthesis

Nitrate is a raw ingredient for the production of fertilizer, gunpowder, and explosives. Developing an alternative approach to activate the N≡N bond of naturally abundant nitrogen to form nitrate under ambient conditions will be of importance. Herein, pothole‐rich WO₃ was used to catalyse the activation of N≡N covalent triple bonds for the direct nitrate synthesis at room temperature. The pothole‐rich structure endues the WO₃ nanosheet more dangling bonds and more easily excited high momentum electrons, which overcome the two major bottlenecks in N≡N bond activation, that is, poor binding of N₂ to catalytic materials and the high energy involved in this reaction. The average rate of nitrate production is as high as 1.92 mg g^?1 h^?1 under ambient conditions, without any sacrificial agent or precious‐metal co‐catalysts. More generally, the concepts will initiate a new pathway for triggering inert catalytic reactions.     

Low-threshold lasing in stimulated Raman lasers with nanosecond pumping

We have studied the conditions resulting in maximum lowering of the excitation threshold for pulsed stimulated Raman (SRS) lasers. It has been shown theoretically that in order to achieve the lowest possible values of laser radiation pulse energy needed to excite lasing in SRS lasers, we need high reflection of the cavity mirrors and low losses at the wavelength of the 1st Stokes component, high reflection of the output mirror at the wavelength of the pump radiation, and also matching of the confocal parameters for the exciting laser radiation and the cavity with each other and with the length of the Raman-active medium. The experimentally achieved excitation threshold for an SRS laser based on a barium nitrate crystal was 6 μJ, which quantitatively corresponds well to the calculation results. Lasing of up to five Stokes components simultaneously occurred. The efficiency for conversion of the laser radiation to one component was as high as 39%. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 75, No. 2, pp. 284–290, March–April, 2008.     

Preparation and characterization of slice-like Cu2(OH)3NO3 superhydrophobic structure on copper foil

Superhydrophobic structure was prepared on copper foil via a facile solution-immersion method. Thus slice-like Cu₂(OH)₃NO₃ crystal was prepared on the surface of the copper foil by sequential immersing in an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide and cupric nitrate. And the superhydrophobic structure was obtained by modifying the slice-like Cu₂(OH)₃NO₃ crystal with 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (FAS-17). The morphologies, chemical compositions and states, and hydrophobicity of the surface-modifying films on the copper foil substrates were analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and water contact angle measurement. Moreover, the thermal stability of the slice-like structure was also evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It was found that roughening of the copper foil surface helped to increase the hydrophobicity to some extent, but no superhydrophobicity was obtained unless the slice-like Cu₂(OH)₃NO₃ crystal formed on the Cu substrate was modified with 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane. Besides, the superhydrophobicity of the FAS-17-modified slice-like Cu₂(OH)₃NO₃ structure was closely related to the surface morphology. And this hydrophobic structure retained good superhydrophobic stability at elevated temperature and in long-term storage as well, which should be critical to the application of Cu-matrix materials in engineering.     

An organoantimony nitrate complex with azastibocine framework as water tolerant Lewis acid catalyst for the synthesis of 1,2-disubstitued benzimidazoles

A novel organoantimony complex of 6-cyclohexyl-6,7-dihydrodibenzo[c,f] [1,5]azastibocin-12(5H)-yl nitrate ( 2 ) was synthesized and systematically characterized by techniques such as NMR spectra, TG-DSC, and X-ray diffraction. It was found that the complex 2 exhibits relatively strong Lewis acidity (3.3 < Ho ≤ 4.8) and could be employed as a water tolerant Lewis acid catalyst for the synthesis of synthetically valuable benzimidazole derivatives starting from aldehydes and arylenediamines. This catalytic system shows excellent tolerance toward a wide variety of functional groups, such as methyl, methoxyl, fluoro, chloro, bromo, nitro, cyan, trifluoromethyl, 1-naphthaldehyde, furfural and n-butyl, together with facile reusability in 5 times scale enlarged synthesis.