The effects of variable nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations on Eriophorum vaginatum tillers grown in nutrient solutions

Eriophorum vaginatum tillers were collected at Eagle Creek, Alaska and cultivated in aerated solutions under controlled environmental conditions. The nutrient solutions contained traces, 1.05 and 21 mg l −1 N (nitrate) and traces, 0.15 and 3.10 mg l −1 P (phosphate), pH was maintained at 5.5. The high N, 21 mg l −1 , and P, 3.18 mg l −1 , nutrient solution produced significant biomass increases. Functional leaf areas were significantly enhanced by high N and P doses in the solutions. Root surface areas varied considerably between treatments; however, significant differences were not found. The mean root surface area of a tiller reached 126 cm 2 (range 35–290 cm 2 ), whereas the functional leaf area was 6.8 cm 2 (range 3.3–20.3 cm 2 ). Tillers growing in the highest N + P solutions produced twice the number of daughter tillers as tillers growing in solutions with trace amounts of N and P.