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The effects of fertilizer and root competition on seedlings of Orchis morio and Dactylorhiza fuchsii in chalk and clay soil
Author(s) -
MCKENDRICK S. L.
Publication year - 1996
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 - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1996.tb04638.x
Subject(s) - competition (biology) , biology , human fertilization , perennial plant , fertilizer , festuca rubra , botany , agronomy , horticulture , ecology
summary The responses of two native British orchids, Orchis morio L. and Dactylorhiza fuchsii (Druce) Soó, to fertilizer and root competition were tested in pots of natural soil. Seedlings were raised from seed in symbiotic culture, set into pots of natural soil and grown for 10 wk in a controlled environment chamber with and without the grass Festuca rubra L. on clay, chalk and fertilized chalk soil. The growth of O. morio was not significantly affected by fertilization. Fertilization of D. fuchsii produced a marked reduction in growth, particularly of the roots. Root competition had little effect on either of the orchids, except that plants of O. morio grown with F. rubra had a greater allocation to thicker, tuber‐bearing roots relative to fine roots ( c. 1 mm diameter or less) compared with those grown without grass. These results were in marked contrast to those obtained for the typical grassland perennial Leontodon hispidus L., in which fertilization led to a very large increase in growth, and root competition greatly reduced growth.