Dry matter response of ryegrass to ammonium and nitrate sources of nitrogen as a function of soil texture and moisture

Abstract

InLolium perenne cv. S23 grown in pots of soil to which nitrogen was applied at rates of 0, 60, 120 and 180 mg N/kg, ammonium significantly increased root mass compared with nitrate, whereas both nitrogen sources produced similar yields of herbage. Total dry matter production in the herbage and roots increased within the textural sequence: loamy sand, coarse sandy loam and loam. The increases in the latter two soils over the loamy sand were 35% and 50%, respectively.