L-alanyl-L-cystine is a dipeptide and can serve as a supplementary source of nitrogen nutrition for plants. The following is a detailed introduction in this regard:
I. Structure and Characteristics
L-alanyl-L-cystine is formed by the linkage of alanine and L-cystine through a peptide bond. Its molecular structure contains nitrogen elements, existing in the form of organic nitrogen. This form of organic nitrogen is relatively stable. In the soil environment, it is not as likely to be lost or undergo morphological transformation as some inorganic nitrogen sources (such as ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen), and it can provide a relatively long-lasting supply of nitrogen to plants.
II. Advantages as a Nitrogen Source
High Absorption Efficiency: In addition to being able to absorb inorganic nitrogen sources, plant roots also have the ability to absorb some small molecular organic nitrogen compounds. As a small molecular peptide, L-alanyl-L-cystine can be directly absorbed by plant roots. After entering the plant body, it is decomposed and utilized through a series of metabolic processes and converted into nitrogen-containing biological macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids of the plant itself. Compared with some nitrogen sources that need to undergo complex transformations before being absorbed, it has a higher absorption efficiency.
Promoting Plant Growth: L-alanyl-L-cystine can not only provide nitrogen to plants but may also have a direct promoting effect on the growth and development of plants. It can participate in various physiological and biochemical processes in plants, such as regulating the synthesis and signal transduction of plant hormones, affecting the division, elongation, and differentiation of plant cells, thereby promoting the growth of both the above-ground and underground parts of plants and increasing the overall biomass and yield of plants.
Improving Soil Fertility: Adding L-alanyl-L-cystine as a nitrogen source to the soil helps to improve the nutrient status of the soil and the structure of the microbial community. On the one hand, it can increase the content of organic nitrogen in the soil and improve soil fertility. On the other hand, it can provide a carbon source and a nitrogen source for the microorganisms in the soil, promoting the growth and reproduction of beneficial microorganisms, enhancing the biological activity of the soil, being conducive to the transformation and circulation of nutrients in the soil, and further improving the soil's ability to supply fertilizers to plants.
III. Applications in Agricultural Production
Fertilizer Addition: L-alanyl-L-cystine can be added to fertilizers to prepare new types of organic-inorganic compound fertilizers or biological fertilizers. Such fertilizers not only have the characteristic of rapidly supplying nitrogen of inorganic nitrogen sources but also possess the long-term effectiveness of organic nitrogen sources such as L-alanyl-L-cystine and the function of promoting plant growth. They can meet the nitrogen requirements of plants at different growth stages, improve the utilization rate of fertilizers, reduce the application amount of chemical fertilizers, and decrease environmental pollution.
Foliar Spraying: By foliar spraying a solution of L-alanyl-L-cystine, a rapid nitrogen supplement can be provided to plants. Especially during the critical growth period of plants or when symptoms of nitrogen deficiency occur, foliar spraying can quickly relieve the nitrogen nutrition requirements of plants, promote the photosynthesis and growth of leaves, and improve the stress resistance of plants.
Soilless Cultivation: In the soilless cultivation system, L-alanyl-L-cystine can be used as a part of the nitrogen source and formulated into a nutrient solution together with other essential nutrient elements to provide comprehensive nutritional support for plants. Since the growth environment of plants in soilless cultivation is relatively controllable, using L-alanyl-L-cystine as a nitrogen source can more precisely regulate the nitrogen supply of plants, optimize the growth conditions of plants, and improve the yield and quality of crops.
