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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » National Sedimentation Laboratory » Water Quality and Ecology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #165757
Title: NUTRIENT UPTAKE BY TWO COMMON FRESHWATER WETLAND PLANTS

Author
item BEADLE, JASON - UNIV OF MISSISSIPPI
item HOLLAND, MARJORIE - UNIV OF MISSISSIPPI
item Moore, Matthew
item Cooper, Charles

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/29/2004
Publication Date: 7/7/2004
Citation: Beadle, J.V., Holland, M.M., Moore, M.T., Cooper, C.M. 2004. Nutrient uptake by two common freshwater wetland plants [abstract]. INTERCOL (International Wetlands Conference). p.26.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Human activities have altered the global biogeochemical cycle by doubling the rate of nitrogen input into terrestrial systems. In Mississippi, nutrients are the third largest agricultural pollutant. Drainage ditches and ponds surround most agricultural fields. The aim of this experiment is to determine if Juncus effusus and Paspalum urvillei are suitable for planting in ditches or ponds bordering agricultural fields to serve as buffers for nitrogen and phosphorus. Juncus effusus and Paspalum urvillei are wetland vascular plants commonly found in the southern United States. Specimens of these species, as well as soil, were collected at the University of Mississippi Field Station and were each individually planted in drums in a greenhouse. The plants were watered from well water, by filling five gallon dosers and allowing them to drip water into the drums at a rate of 3 L/day. A treatment of 5 mg/L nitrate and 0.15 mg/L phosphate was added to half of the dosers, while the other half received untreated well water. Water samples were collected from the inflow and outflow. Plant height and cover were measured, and plant tissue samples were taken. At the end of the experiment, total biomass for each plant was determined. Exposures began on the week of July 13, 2003, and continued for 18 weeks until the week of November 9, 2003. Results show that when exposed to higher levels of nutrients, J. effusus and P. urvillei responded by increasing the concentrations of nutrients in their tissues as well as increasing in root biomass.