Nitrates in plants and soil after fertilization of grass-legume mixtures

Abstract

Nitrates are one of the most frequent utilized forms of N from soil. Through root they reach stem and leaf where in photosynthetic processes they convert into proteins. Due to exposure to stress situations, and excessive nitrogen fertilization, nitrate accumulation in plant tissues and organs occurs. Also, nitrates can accumulate in harmful concentrations in soil. Nitrates accumulated in plants have harmful effect on animals which consume plants since they cause various health disorders. In variance analysis in both investigation years it was established that fertilization as well as interaction of factors mixture/fertilization had very significant effect on investigated quality parameter, contrary to mixture as single factor. In both investigation years, treatments with 210 kgN ha-1 had the highest nitrate concentration. Content of nitrate nitrogen in soil is increased by fertilization. Objective of the research was to determine nitrate quantities which are accumulated in plants subsequent to n fertilization and growing in mixtures with other species, as well as to determine nitrate quantities which remain in the soil unutilized, which are potential causes of environment pollution.