Aquatic Plant Control Research Program: Effects of Water Chemistry on Aquatic Plants: Interactive Effects of Inorganic Carbon and Nitrogen on Biomass Production and Plant Nutrition

Growth of submersed Egeria densa, Hydrilla verticillata, and Myriophyllum spicatum was examined under 2 levels of inorganic carbon supply, at 2 sediment nitrogen levels, in a solution containing moderate levels of major cations and inorganic carbon. The study's primary objective was to evaluate...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Smart, R M, Barko, John W
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
AQUATIC PLANTS
AVAILABILITY
Biology
BIOMASS CONVERSION
CARBON
DIC(DISSOLVED INORGANIC CARBON)
DISSOLVING
EGERIA DENSA
FEEDBACK
HYDRILLA VERTICILLATA
INORGANIC CARBON
INORGANIC COMPOUNDS
INTERACTIONS
LIMITATIONS
MYRIOPHYLLUM SPICATUM
NITROGEN
NUTRIENTS
PLANT GROWTH
SEDIMENTS
SUPPLIES
UNDERWATER
WATER CHEMISTRY
Online Access:Request full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Growth of submersed Egeria densa, Hydrilla verticillata, and Myriophyllum spicatum was examined under 2 levels of inorganic carbon supply, at 2 sediment nitrogen levels, in a solution containing moderate levels of major cations and inorganic carbon. The study's primary objective was to evaluate the interactive effects of inorganic carbon supply and sediment N availability on plant growth and nutrition. Results indicate that both inorganic carbon supply and sediment N availability can limit growth of submersed aquatic plant populations. Egeria was more affected by inorganic carbon supply, Myriophyllum was more affected by sediment N availability, and Hydrilla was equally affected by both factors. Maximal plant growth of all species occurred under conditions of high inorganic carbon supply and high sediment N availability, indicating that suboptimal levels of either factor can depress growth. The results suggest the existence of a feedback loop regulating biomass production in submersed aquatic plants. Increases in the supply of either limiting factor may result in increased demand for the other factor, eventually resulting in low levels of both factors.