title: Effect of ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride and root-zone acidity on inorganic ion content of tobacco.
abstract: Tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv NC82) were supplied with (NH4)2SO4 or NH4Cl at root-zone pH of 6.0 and 4.5 in hydroponic culture for 28 days.  Dry matter accumulation, total N and C content, and leaf area and number were not affected by the NH4+ source or root-zone pH.  Plants supplied with NH4Cl accumulated up to 1.2 mM Cl g DW-1, but accumulated 37% less inorganic H2PO4- and 47% less SO4(2-) than plants supplied with (NH4)2SO4.  The large Cl- accumulation resulted in NH4Cl- supplied plants having a 31% higher inorganic anion (NO3-, H2, PO4-, SO4(2-), and Cl-) charge.  This higher inorganic anion charge in the NH4Cl-supplied plants was balanced by a similar increase in K+ charge.  Plants supplied with NH4Cl accumulated greater concentrations of Cl- in leaves (up to 5.1% of DW) than plants supplied with (NH4)2SO4 (less than -% DW).  Despite the high Cl- concentration of leaves in NH4Cl supplied plants, these plants showed no symptoms of Cl- toxicity.  This demonstrates that toxicity symptoms are not due solely to an interaction between high Cl- concentration in tissue and NH4+ nutrition.  The increase in root-zone acidity to pH 4.5 from 6.0 did not induce toxicity symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Vessey
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Raper
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Henry
mesh_terms: D000643:Ammonium Chloride / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000645:Ammonium Sulfate / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000838:Anions / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D002412:Cations / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D002712:Chlorides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D005308:Fertilizers; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D018527:Hydroponics; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D013431:Sulfates / Q000032:analysis; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000838:Anions; D002412:Cations; D002712:Chlorides; D005308:Fertilizers; D013431:Sulfates; D000643:Ammonium Chloride; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen; D000645:Ammonium Sulfate