Ionic homeostasis, biochemical components and yield of Italian zucchini under nitrogen forms and salt stress

This research was carried out aiming at evaluating the effects of nitrate and ammonium ions on nutrient accumulation, biochemical components and yield of Italian zucchini (cv. Caserta) grown in a hydroponic system under salt stress conditions. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse utilizing an experimental design in randomized blocks, arranged in a 2 x 5 factorial scheme, with 4 replications. The treatments consisted of two forms of nitrogen (nitrate - NO3- and ammonium - NH4+) and 5 electrical conductivity levels of irrigation water (ECw) (0.5, 2.0, 3.5, 5.0 and 6.5 dS m-1). The analysis of the results indicated that supply of N exclusively in NH4+ form promotes greater damage to the leaf membrane and reduction in accumulation of macronutrients and higher Na+/K+, Na+/Ca++ and Na+/Mg++ ratios in the shoots of zucchini plants. Electrical conductivity of irrigation water above 2.0 dS m-1 reduces the accumulation of nutrients in shoot and yield of Italian zucchini plant. The toxicity of NH4+ under Italian zucchini plants overlap the toxicity of the salinity, since its fertilization exclusively with this form of nitrogen inhibits its production, being the NO3- form the most suitable for the cultivation of the species.

The balance of nitrogen forms and number of microorganisms of the nitrogen cycle in vermicomposts based on leaf litter and cow manure

The processes of nitrogen transformation in the vermiculture system by Eisenia fetida using cow manure and leaf litter (poplar with small birch addition) have been investigated. Vermicomposting was carried out for five months in half-cubic meter wooden containers. The Kjeldahl method and potentiometry determined the total nitrogen, NH4 + and NO3- content in vermicompost. The total nitrogen content in cow manure was 1.83%, in leaf litter - 0.73%. The nitrate and ammonium content in non-composted leaf litter was 351 and 7.3 mEq/kg of dry matter, respectively. The nitrate and ammonium content in non-composted cow manure was 18.2 and 22 mEq/kg, respectively. Both investigated substrates of vermicomposting did not influence total nitrogen content. In cow manure-based vermicomposting system, the ammonium amount decreased by 5.3 times, while the concentration of nitrates increased by 6.5 times. In the leaf litter-based vermicomposting system, the ammonium amount increased by 2.9 times, and the amount of the nitrate increased by 1.6 times. The Azotobacter bacteria actual activity in both vermicomposts was close to 100%. The sum of nitrogen cycle microorganisms in manure vermicompost was 2.4 times higher than in leaf litter vermicompost.

Natural-climatic and anthropogenic factors determining the self-purification capacity of shallow-water marine ecosystems in relation to reduced nitrogen forms

The paper considers natural-climatic and anthropogenic factors that determine differences in the self-purification capacity of the Sevastopol Bay ecosystems (its western, central, eastern parts and the Yuzhnaya Bay) in relation to the reduced nitrogen forms (ammonium and nitrites) by calculating the assimilation capacity. The authors took into account the intensity of the input sources of the studied forms of nitrogen, the rate of excretion from the ecosystem, the dynamic situation in the studied water areas and in the entire bay as well as the location of recreational facilities. For the first time, the factors were assessed that provide additional input of reduced forms of nitrogen associated with hypoxia during summer water stratification in local deepened areas in the upper bottom sediment layer, taking into account their particle size distribution. Further, the authors considered accumulation of organic matter and its destruction due to oxidized nitrogen forms and formation of reduced forms thereof. The currents in the central and southern parts of the Sevastopol Bay were calculated using a hydrodynamic model. The calculation results correspond to the current system in the mentioned water areas of the bay according to in situ data at different wind situations in the region. According to the calculations, it is possible that under certain hydrometeorological situations additional amount of ammonium and nitrites would flow from the Yuzhnaya Bay into the central part of the Sevastopol Bay.