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Influence of NH 3 and (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 on heathland vegetation
Author(s) -
Van Der Eerden L. J.,
Dueck Th. A.,
Berdowski J. J. M.,
Greven H.,
Van Dobben H. F.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
acta botanica neerlandica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.871
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1438-8677
pISSN - 0044-5983
DOI - 10.1111/j.1438-8677.1991.tb01559.x
Subject(s) - calluna , biomass (ecology) , shoot , vegetation (pathology) , monoculture , botany , agronomy , environmental science , biology , ecology , ericaceae , medicine , pathology
SUMMARY Heathland is currently being threatened by nitrogenous atmospheric deposition, mainly NH y (NH 3 and NH + 4 ). Deschampsia flexuosa and Calluna vulgaris in monocultures were well able to use NH y for biomass production, although in the case of C. vulgaris only shoot growth was stimulated and C. vulgaris increased its sensitivity to drought and the heather beetle ( Lochmaea suturalis ). In a mixed culture of C. vulgaris and D. flexuosa , the latter species was the better competitor for NH y . The relation between stimulated biomass production and increased stress sensitivity also applied to several other heathland species. A general effect threshold for adverse effects of NH 3 on plants has been established with a toxicological model: 270 and 8 μg m −3 for a daily and annual mean, respectively. Heathland species are relatively sensitive to NH y .