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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » National Sedimentation Laboratory » Water Quality and Ecology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #237325
Title: Hydrology and Species-Specific Effects of Bacopa monnieri and Leersia oryzoides on Soil and Water Chemistry

Author
item PIERCE, SAMUEL - UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS
item PEZESHKI, S - UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS
item LARSEN, DANIEL - UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS
item Moore, Matthew

Submitted to: Ecohydrology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/26/2009
Publication Date: 9/30/2009
Citation: Pierce, S.C., Pezeshki, S.R., Larsen, D., Moore, M.T. 2009. Hydrology and species-specific effects of Bacopa monnieri and Leersia oryzoides on soil and water chemistry. Ecohydrology. 2:279-286.

Interpretive Summary: Using vegetated drainage ditches is an economical and environmentally sound way to help alleviate contaminants associated with agricultural runoff. Very few studies have examined the ability of aquatic plants to assimilate nutrients under different flooding situations. Results from this study indicated that rice cutgrass was able to immobilize phosphorus more as it was subjected to increased water levels. Water hyssop did not show a similar response. This research is important because it provides farmers and conservationists with necessary tools to help clean up nutrient-rich agricultural runoff.

Technical Abstract: In an eight week greenhouse experiment, Bacopa monnieri (Water Hyssop) and Leersia oryzoides (Rice Cutgrass) were compared for nutrient assimilation as well as soil and water chemistry under variable flooding regimes using a nutrient solution rich in nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Soil redox potential decreased in flooded treatments; however, mesocosms containing B. monnieri remained aerobic for much of the study, while flooded mesocosms containing L. oryzoides became moderately reduced. Soils containing L. oryzoides were higher in nitrogen. Generally, effluent concentrations of PO4 3- 24 were higher in B. monnieri mesocosms. Plant concentrations of N and P were affected differently by flooding; flooding led to decreased shoot N and P concentrations in B. monnieri, whereas increasing root P concentrations in L. oryzoides. B. monnieri immobilization of N and P was significantly less in belowground tissues than L. oryzoides. P immobilization in L. oryzoides generally increased in response to flooding, while B. monnieri showed no detectable response. Results indicated that species-specific flood responses in plant nutrient status are due to differing interactions of B. monnieri and L. oryzoides with the soil environment. Additionally, L. oryzoides demonstrated greater P uptake than B. monnieri across treatments, resulting in decreased concentrations of PO4-3 in effluent. Although N was also affected by flooding and species, generalizations on N allocation within the system are difficult to describe due to the changes in species of N in response to oxidation-reduction gradients and biotic assimilation.