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Growth reduction of Sphagnum magellanicum subjected to high nitrogen deposition: the role of amino acid nitrogen concentration

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Abstract

We tested the relationship between Sphagnum growth and the amount of nitrogen stored in free amino acids in a fertilisation experiment with intact peat monoliths in an open greenhouse in The Netherlands. Three nitrogen deposition scenarios were used: no nitrogen deposition, field conditions and a doubling of the latter, corresponding to 0, 40 and 80 kg N ha−1 year−1. Growth of Sphagnum as expressed by height increment was reduced in the 80 kg N treatment, but showed no correlation with the total nitrogen tissue concentration or with the concentration of individual or pooled free amino acids. The amount of nitrogen stored in free amino acids increased concomitantly with deposition, although it lagged more and more behind the total nitrogen concentration, the latter pointing to the accumulation of unmeasured nitrogen compounds. Asparagine clearly acted as the major storage compound for nitrogen in Sphagnum stem tissue, whereas arginine fulfilled this function to a lesser extent in the capitulum. It appears that nitrogen-induced growth inhibition of Sphagnum is related to acclimation rather than to certain threshold concentrations of amino nitrogen or total nitrogen. We propose that when Sphagnum is exposed to a step increase of nitrogen, its nitrogen metabolism does not adapt fast enough to keep up with the enhanced uptake rate. This imbalance between nitrogen uptake and assimilation may lead to an accumulation of toxic NH4 + in the cell and a subsequent reduction in growth.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries of the Netherlands. We are indebted to Harry Jonker (Plant Research International) for help with the amino acid analysis and Monique Heijmans for valuable comments on the manuscript. The authors' editor was Joy Burrough.

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  1. Nature Conservation and Plant Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Bornsesteeg 69, 6708 PD, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    J. Limpens & F. Berendse

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  1. J. Limpens
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  2. F. Berendse
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Correspondence to J. Limpens.

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Limpens, J., Berendse, F. Growth reduction of Sphagnum magellanicum subjected to high nitrogen deposition: the role of amino acid nitrogen concentration. Oecologia 135, 339–345 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-003-1224-5

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