The effects of NH4+ and NO3− on growth, resource allocation and nitrogen uptake kinetics of Phragmites australis and Glyceria maxima

Species differed in the nitrogen utilisation. In Glyceria, the relative tissue N content was higher than in Phragmites and was increased in NH4+ treated plants by 16%. The tissue NH4+ concentration (mean = 1.6 μmol g fresh wt−1) was not affected by N treatment, whereas NO3− contents were higher in NO3− (mean = 1.5 μmol g fresh wt−1) than in NH4+ (mean = 0.4 μmol g fresh wt−1) treated plants. In Phragmites, NH4+ (mean = 1.6 μmol g fresh wt−1) and NO3− (mean = 0.2 μmol g fresh wt−1) contents were not affected by the N regime. Species did not differ in NH4+ (mean = 56.5 μmol g−1 root dry wt h−1) and NO3− (mean = 34.5 μmol g−1 root dry wt h−1) maximum uptake rates (Vmax), and Vmax for NH4+ uptake was not affected by N treatment. The uptake rate of NO3− was low in NH4+ treated plants, and an induction phase for NO3− was observed in NH4+ treated Phragmites but not in Glyceria. Phragmites had low Km (mean = 4.5 μM) and high affinity (10.3 l g−1 root dry wt h−1) for both ions compared to Glyceria (Km = 6.3 μM, affinity = 8.0 l g−1 root dry wt h−1). The results showed different plasticity of Phragmites and Glyceria toward N source. The positive response to NH4+-N source may participates in the observed success of Glyceria at NH4+ rich sites, although other factors have to be considered. Higher plasticity of Phragmites toward low nutrient availability may favour this species at oligotrophic sites.