Nitrogen Losses in Green Plants

Abstract

A FEATURE of the nitrogen metabolism of plants which has received little attention is the possibility of considerable losses of nitrogen during the process of nitrate reduction. It is generally agreed that this process leads first to the production of nitrites, and the presence of nitrites in plants actively engaged in nitrate reduction has been shown by Eggleton¹. As plant tissues are normally acid, nitrous acid should be present, and this should combine with mono-amino nitrogen to give elementary nitrogen. It is well known that this reaction is rapid in vitro². It has been shown by Irving and Hankinson³ that Elodea produces elementary nitrogen when immersed in solutions containing nitrates and asparagine as a source of amino-nitrogen.