Abstract
The capacity of Elodea nuttallii (Planch.) St. John and Elodea canadensis Michx. to remove nitrogen from water was evaluated in laboratory experiment. The growth rate of plants and their effect on the nitrogen level of hypertrophic Lake Zwemlust (the Netherlands) as well as on lake water enriched with nitrogen were investigated. The plants grew best in water enriched with up to 2 mg NH4-Nl−1 and 2 mg NH4-Nl−1 plus 2 mg NO3 Nl−1. During a 14 day experiment, plants absorbed from 75% to 90% of nitrogen. Higher nitrogen concentration than 4 mg l−1 had a negative effect on growth of both species. Elodea nuttallii and E. canadensis prefer NOinf4/p+ over NOinf4/p− when both ions were present in water in equal concentrations.
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Ozimek, T., van Donk, E. & Gulati, R.D. Growth and nutrient uptake by two species of Elodea in experimental conditions and their role in nutrient accumulation in a macrophyte-dominated lake. Hydrobiologia 251, 13–18 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00007159
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00007159