Growth and nutrient use efficiency of water tupelo seedlings in flooded and well-drained soil.

Seedlings in flooded soil produced more total biomass per milligram of nutrient absorbed than seedlings in well-drained soil, suggesting that N. aquatica seedlings are more efficient at producing biomass and height growth under hydric conditions than under mesic conditions.

Abstract

Growth characteristics and nutrient utilization rate of Nyssa aquatica L. seedlings grown in pots containing flooded or well-drained soil were compared in a greenhouse study. For most of the growing season, relative height and diameter growth rates, and biomass accumulation rates were greater for seedlings in flooded soil than for seedlings in well-drained soil. The concentration of Fe in the roots of seedlings in flooded soil was almost tenfold greater than that of seedlings in well-drained soil. However, flooding had no effect on foliar Fe concentrations. The flooding treatment resulted in decreased concentrations of N in all component parts and increased concentrations of P in the roots and stem, but it had no effect on foliar P concentrations. In response to flooding, foliar K concentrations decreased, whereas the concentration of K in the roots increased. Flooding had no effect on the K concentration of the stem. Seedlings in flooded soil produced more total biomass per milligram of nutrient absorbed than seedlings in well-drained soil, suggesting that N. aquatica seedlings are more efficient at producing biomass and height growth under hydric conditions than under mesic conditions.