Do plants consume NH3 and NO2?

[rage]

I read some conflicting information. Some sources say plants only consume Nitrate. Other sources say plants consume NH3 and Nitrite as well. Do you know what is right and what is wrong? What is your personal experience? Do you run a filter on your planted tank? What are your parameters like?
Thks.

[Mzungu]

Quick question, but where did you read about them only consuming nitrate?

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[Darbex]

I am not a chemist but I think plants only consume Nitrates from the nitrogen cycle. They need the bacteria to break down the ammonia and nitrites. I have a small tank that is heavily planted and I havent changed the water in over a year. Only add new water for what has evaporated.

[wesleydnunder]

I read some conflicting information. Some sources say plants only consume Nitrate. Other sources say plants consume NH3 and Nitrite as well. Do you know what is right and what is wrong? What is your personal experience? Do you run a filter on your planted tank? What are your parameters like?
Thks.

Non-aquatic plants can use NH3 and NO2 directly from the soil and I'm pretty sure aquatic plants can also. I'm trying to find the Barr Report link I read years ago that explains why you don't do a fishless cycle on planted tanks and also explains why Aqua soil is ammonia-enriched.

Here's a link about the terrestrial plants:

http://plantbio.berkeley.edu/~courses/bio11/lectures/lecture20.html

Mark

[Mzungu]

Here's an interesting article by Diana Walstad:

http://www.aquabotanic.com/plants_and_biological_filtration.htm