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The influence of site and position in the plant community on the nutrient distribution in, and content of Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms

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Abstract

Concentrations of Na, K, Ca, Mg, total organic N and P were determined in roots, petioles and pseudolaminae of water hyacinth plants sampled from the margins and centres of plant communities growing at three sites. Significant differences in the concentrations of most nutrients were found between the various plant parts and between marginal and central plants, whereas between site differences were only significant in the case of Na, Mg, and P. The differences in nutrient content in plants occupying different positions in the plant community are not readily explained, but suggest that interactions between plants in the centre of a community influence both their physiology of nutrient uptake and growth form.

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Authors
  1. C. F. Musil
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  2. C. M. Breen
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Additional information

Botanical Research Unit, Durban; Department of Botany, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg

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Musil, C.F., Breen, C.M. The influence of site and position in the plant community on the nutrient distribution in, and content of Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms. Hydrobiologia 53, 67–72 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00021233

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00021233

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