The influence of drought on the utilisation of nitrogen (15N) by two modern and one historical spring barley (Hordeum vulgareL.) varieties

Abstract

In an experiment with two modern varieties (Amulet and Krona) and one historical variety (Nűrnberg) of spring barley stress, invoked by drought, significantly reduced the % content of N and the total amount of accumulated N in the plant bodies in all varieties. On the contrary significantly increased the percentage of N from fertiliser ( 15 N) to the total nitrogen in the plants. Varietal differences were expressed as a tendency to greater accumulation of total N and N from fertiliser ( 15 N) in the modern varieties than in the variety Nűrnberg. On the contrary this variety was found that there was a greater proportion of 15 N to the total amount of N in the plants. Under normal moisture conditions the nitrogen from the fertiliser ( 15 N) was taken in and utilised by the spring barley primarily in the first half of vegetation period and, as a rule, its accumulation in the plants peaked during flowering. Drought slowed down its intake and usage and shifted the maximum accumulation to the post-stress i.e. p...