# Emergent Plants Improve Nitrogen Uptake Rates by Regulating the Activity of Nitrogen Assimilation Enzymes

## TL;DR

This study shows how certain aquatic plants can efficiently absorb nitrogen from water, which helps reduce pollution in the Yellow River Basin.

## Contribution

The study reveals how different emergent plant species and nitrogen forms influence nitrogen uptake rates and enzyme activities.

## Key findings

- Phragmites australis and Typha orientalis showed higher nitrogen uptake rates compared to other species.
- Nitrogen uptake rates are influenced by the form of nitrogen and plant species, with significant correlations to enzyme activities.
- Root traits and assimilation enzymes play a key role in nitrogen uptake and adaptation to eutrophication.

## Abstract

Effectively utilizing aquatic plants to absorb nitrogen from water bodies and convert it into organic nitrogen via nitrogen assimilation enzyme activity reduces water nitrogen concentrations. This serves as a critical strategy for mitigating agricultural non-point source pollution in the Yellow River Basin However, emergent plants’ rate and mechanism of uptake of different forms of nitrogen remain unclear. This study determined the nitrogen uptake rates, nitrogen assimilation activities, root properties, and photosynthetic parameters of four emergent plants, Phragmites australis, Typha orientalis, Scirpus validus, and Lythrum salicaria, under five NH4+/NO3− ratios (9:1, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7, and 1:9) using 15N hydroponic simulations. The results demonstrated that both the form of nitrogen and the plant species significantly influenced the nitrogen uptake rates of emergent plants. In water bodies with varying NH4+/NO3− ratios, P. australis and T. orientalis exhibited significantly higher inorganic nitrogen uptake rates than S. validus and L. salicaria, increasing by 11.83–114.69% and 14.07–130.46%, respectively. When the ratio of NH4+/NO3− in the water body was 9:1, the uptake rate of inorganic nitrogen by P. australis reached its peak, which was 729.20 μg·N·g−1·h−1 DW (Dry Weight). When the ratio of NH4+/NO3− was 5:5, the uptake rate of T. orientalis was the highest, reaching 763.71 μg·N·g−1·h−1 DW. The plants’ preferences for different forms of nitrogen exhibited significant environmental plasticity. At an NH4+/NO3− ratio of 5:5, P. australis and T. orientalis preferred NO3−-N, whereas S. validus and L. salicaria favored NH4+-N. The uptake rate of NH4+-N by the four plants was significantly positively correlated with glutamine synthetase and glutamate synthase activities, while the uptake rate of NO3−-N was significantly positively correlated with NR activity. These findings indicate that the nitrogen uptake and assimilation processes of these four plant species involve synergistic mechanisms of environmental adaptation and physiological regulation, enabling more effective utilization of different nitrogen forms in water. Additionally, the uptake rate of NH4+-N by P. australis and T. orientalis was significantly positively correlated with glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), suggesting that they are better adapted to eutrophication via the GDH pathway. The specific root surface area plays a crucial role in regulating the nitrogen uptake rates of plants. The amount of nitrogen uptake exerted the greatest total impact on the nitrogen uptake rate, followed by root traits and nitrogen assimilation enzymes. Therefore, there were significant interspecific differences in the uptake rates of and physiological response mechanisms of emergent plants to various nitrogen forms. It is recommended to prioritize the use of highly adaptable emergent plants such as P. australis and T. orientalis in the Yellow River irrigation area.