The potential for nitrification and nitrate uptake in the rhizosphere of wetland plants: A modelling study

Abstract

• Background and Aims: It has recently found that lowland rice grown hydroponically is exceptionally efficient in absorbing NO3 -, raising the possibility that rice and other wetland plants growing in flooded soil may absorb significant amounts of NO3- formed by nitrification of NH4+ in the rhizosphere. This is important because (a) this NO3- is otherwise lost through denitrification in the soil bulk; and (b) plant growth and yield are generally improved when plants absorb their nitrogen as a mixture of NO 3- and NH4+ compared with growth on either N source on its own. A mathematical model is developed here with which to assess the extent of NO3- absorption from the rhizosphere by wetland pl..