Comparison of glycine uptake by pak choi in organic and conventional soil under different glycine concentrations: A pot study

Many studies have shown that plants can utilize organic N in the form of amino acids. However, it is unclear whether the glycine‐uptake capability responds differently to various farm management systems, and whether the interaction of farm management type with soil glycine concentrations affects the glycine uptake by plants. A pot experiment was conducted in which pak choi (Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis Makino var. communis Tsen et Lee) was grown in soil from organic and conventional agricultural systems for 15 d prior to labeling with 2‐13C, 15N‐glycine in a range of Gly concentrations (0, 0.005, 0.05, 0.5, 5, and 15 μg N g−1 dry soil). The glycine uptake rate increased with increasing applied N concentrations, whereas the glycine recovery increased initially and then decreased. Regardless of glycine concentration, the glycine uptake rates of whole plants were moderate, but not significantly higher in organic than in conventional soil. The plant glycine recovery in organic soil was significantly higher than in conventional soil. Therefore, we suggest that pak choi glycine uptake differs under organic and conventional management systems. More research efforts should focus on the nutritional function of organic N in organic systems.