Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus availability in the establishment of Spartina alterniflora in an irregularly flooded intertidal flat
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4013/5456Abstract
Salt marshes are intertidal environments covered by herbaceous halophytes responsible by high primary production and habitats for several invertebrates and fishes. In Rio Grande do Sul State (RS; southern Brazil), salt marshes suffered increasing anthropogenic impact and cumulative losses of their surface due to natural erosion. This study evaluated the process of establishing a new salt marsh by planting the grass Spartina alterniflora in a beach of the estuary of Patos Lagoon (RS), under different treatments for nutrient addition. Vegetative propagules of S. alterniflora (n = 1113) were planted spaced 1 m apart, inside 3 similar planting blocks. Propagules were divided among four groups treated with distinct nutrients: nitrogen (N-NH4 +), phosphorus (P-PO4 -3), a combination of nitrogen and phosphorus (NP) and control, without nutrient addition. After 4 months, plants treated with P and NP showed higher survivorship (82% e 87%) than plants treated only with N (70%) and control plants (75%), suggesting that phosphorus is a stimulating factor to root formation and is also responsible for the success in establishment. Propagules treated with combined N and P produced 143% more tiller, their tillers were 21% taller and rhizomes 75% longer than control propagules. The growth response of S. alterniflora at the addition of N and P showed spatial variation. Plants established in the central block of transplantation, where lower availability of soluble phosphate was found, showed the best development and had their growth increased by the addition of phosphate. This response seems to be related to an increased aerenchyma density of large S. alterniflora stand that may lead to rhiszosphere oxidation.
Key words: Spartina, nutrient, biogenic responses, transplantation.Downloads
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