Recent study has shown that nitrates used in the fertilizers during intensive farming can contribute to environmental and health problem. Environmental problem such as water contamination or degradation of ozone layers, and health problem such as accumulation of cancerous substance in adults stomach and decrease in oxygenated blood in breas-feeding women. Therefore, researchers are looking for an alternative of nitrate that can increase the crop yield and productivty yet not cause environmental or health problem.

The researchers have discovered the possibility of using ammonium or urea as nitrogenous source instead of nitrates. However, although ammonium or urea might not have negative health or environmental impact, it does not result in same crop yield or growth as nitrate fertilizer. Study shows that plant produces stress when ammonium fertilizer is used. Using this idea, an investiagtion was undertaken. They found that activation of antioxidative enzyme produced by the ammonium in plants results in stress. To further study the ammonium assimilation enzyme, varities of peas were cloned, and the result showed that the content of enzyme increased in various root tissue when the ammonium fertilizers were used, therefore the increase in enzyme concentration is related to the ammonium concentration.

source:Elhuyar Fundazio

Posted: April 19th, 2006.

websource: science daily

weblink: http://www.sciencedaily.com/release/04/060419075309.htm