NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS CONTENT OF VASCULAR PLANT SPECIES IN HERBACEOUS MARSHES IN THE SANJIANG PLAIN, NORTHEAST CHINA

Authors Lou, Yanjing; Wang, Guoping; Lu, Xianguo; Jiang, Ming

Journal FRESENIUS ENVIRONMENTAL BULLETIN , 2012,12A:21

Abstract The stoichiometry of wetland plant species has been investigated in Europe and North America, but few correlative studies have been conducted in northeast China. A systematic census of plant nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) concentrations and N:P ratios by biomass was conducted for 21 characteristic species from Carex and Phragmites marsh in nine marsh sites of the Sanjiang Plain, northeast China. The means of N, P, and N:P ratios were 11.87, 1.42 mg g(-1), and 8.69, respectively. Compared with European and American studies, the lower N content is the primary difference in the N and P stoichiometry of wetland species in northeastern China. Critical nutrient concentrations and N:P ratios are used to determine nutrient limitations and these indicators suggest N deficiency in this region. Inter-species and inter-plant group variations in N, P, and N:P ratios differed. This study is a contribution to understand the stoichiometry pattern of global wetland plant and for the management of wetland ecosystem in Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China.

Species covered 薹草属 Carex