Nitrate uptake characteristics and ammonium effects were compared between upland rice (Brazilian upland rice) and paddy rice (Wuyujing 3 and Yangdao 6) through the glass microelectrode technique and the concentration gradient method of uptake kinetics. Results indicated that nitrate uptake by rice seedlings and ammonium effects were related to transmembrane potential difference, and upland rice and paddy rice presented obviously different responses. Nitrate induced a rapid depolarization and then a slow repolarization of transmembrane potential in root epidermal cells, and even hyperpolarization was observed when nitrate concentration was low. Resting transmembrane potential of epidermal cells in Brazilian upland rice roots was lower and its response to NO3- was bigger than that of two paddy rice species. Depolarization of membrane potential was amplified when ammonium was simultaneously added with nitrate into the measure medium, but repolarization was reduced, even disappeared. Brazilian upland rice seedlings had high Vmax of nitrate uptake and low Km, furthermore, Vmax and Km were little affected by ammonium, but Vmax of Wuyujing 3 was reduced significantly. Therefore, inhibition of ammonium to nitrate uptake possibly due to decrease of membrane potential and influence of nitrate transporters. Moreover, inhibition of NH4+ differed obviously between upland rice and paddy rice.

Most of plants uptook NO3--N faster at the low pH 4.0 than at pH 6.0 and uptook NH4+-N slower, but few experimental plants showed different tendency. The exceptions probably due to excessive nitrate outflux of some maize and wheat varieties (Suyu 19. Zhendan958 and Yangmai12) at low pH. Some other experimental plants (Huaidao 8. Nongda108 and Yangmai12) even show no obvious NH4+ toxic symptoms at pH 4.0. The effect of low pH on uptake rate of NH4+-N and NO3--N varied with plant species, varieties, and the difference increased with the growth age of seedlings.