Nickel supplementation effect on the growth, urease activity and urea and nitrate concentrations in lettuce supplied with different nitrogen sources

Effect of nickel (Ni) in the nutrient solution on yield, N metabolism, and nitrate content of leafy vegetables is poorly understood. The aim of this nutrient solution culture experiment was to investigate the effects of Ni supplementation on the nitrogen (N) metabolism and growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Baker) with either urea or nitrate as the N source. Nickel supplement at 0.04 mu M reduced urea toxicity to the urea-fed plants. Addition of Ni to the nutrient solution significantly increased the leaves and root growth of the urea-fed lettuce plants while it increased the growth of lettuce plants fed with nitrate only at N level of 20 mM. At N level of 20 mM, the leaves fresh weight of the urea-fed plants promoted by Ni supplement was comparable with the nitrate-fed plants untreated with Ni. Nickel supplementation increased the leaf total N concentrations in the urea-fed plants, although the nitrate-fed plants accumulated greater N in their leaves compared with urea treated plants at without Ni treatment. Nickel addition decreased the concentrations of leaf urea-N in the urea-fed plants and NO(3)-N in the nitrate-fed plants. Nickel addition enhanced urease activity in the leaves of urea-fed plants. The results indicated Ni supplementation enhances the growth of the urea-fed lettuce plants while it has role in decreasing leaf nitrate concentration and thus, improving the health quality of the nitrate-fed plants. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.