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N deposition affects N availability in interstitial water, growth of Sphagnum and invasion of vascular plants in bog vegetation
Author(s) -
Limpens Juul,
Berendse Frank,
Klees Herman
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-8137.2003.00667.x
Subject(s) - sphagnum , bog , growing season , deposition (geology) , peat , biology , botany , moss , vegetation (pathology) , shrub , seedling , biomass (ecology) , agronomy , ecology , medicine , paleontology , pathology , sediment
Summary• We studied the effects of N deposition on shrub–moss competition and the establishment and growth of invasive Betula pubescensandMolinia caeruleain intact bog vegetation removed from a site subject to 40 kg N ha−1yr−1 . • Mesocosms with and without introduced Betulaseedlings andMoliniasprouts were kept under a roof and received an equivalent of 0, 40 and 80 kg N ha−1yr−1 for two growing seasons. • N concentration in both interstitial water and Sphagnumdecreased when N input ceased and increased when N input was doubled.Moliniabiomass was positively related to the inorganic N concentration in the interstitial water. Adding N increased production ofMoliniaand prolonged survival ofBetulaseedlings in the first year.Sphagnum height increment showed a hump‐shaped relationship with light interception by vascular plants. • N deposition encouraged vascular plants to grow by enhancing N availability in the rhizosphere. Water table level and the availability of P were found to be important in explaining species‐specific responses to N deposition. The underlying mechanisms and the reversibility of N effects are discussed.