The importance of belowground mineral element stores in cattails ( Typha latifolia L.)

• Published in: Aquatic botany 1988-05, Vol.30 (4), p.343-352
• Main Authors: Smith, Craig S., Adams, Michael S., Gustafson, Todd D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Plants and fungi
• ISSN: 0304-3770; 1879-1522
• DOI: 10.1016/0304-3770(88)90066-6

We measured the amount of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, B, Mn, Na, Sr, Cu and Zn in above- and belowground parts of cattails ( Typha latifolia L.) every 2 weeks during the growing season (April–October) in plants growing in a marsh on the shore of Lake Mendota, Wisconsin. Elements differed considerably in their distribution between above- and belowground parts and the amount of apparent exchange between parts. The ratio of the amount of an element in aboveground plant parts to that belowground (A:B) was between 1:1 and 2:1 for most elements, as compared with the 2.2:1 ratio of biomass. The maximum amounts of Fe and Zn belowground exceeded their aboveground maxima, while K, Ca and Mn had A:B ratios greater than 2:1. N, P and K in belowground plant parts decreased considerably during the spring, and belowground decreases were large enough to be potentially important sources of these elements for shoot growth. Belowground stores of Ca, Mg, Mn, Na and Sr decreased little in the spring and do not function as reserves.