The Rengen Grassland experiment: bryophytes biomass and element concentrations after 65 years of fertilizer application

作者：Hejcman Michal; Szakova Jirina; Schellberg Juergen^*; Srek Petr; Tlustos Pavel; Balik Jiri

来源：Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2010, 166(1-4): 653-662.

DOI：10.1007/s10661-009-1030-6

• Bio-indicator
• Brachythecium rutabulum
• Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus
• Heavy metals
• Mosses chemical analysis
• Biomass N/P ratio

The Rengen Grassland Experiment in Germany, established in 1941, consists of the following fertilizer treatments applied under a two cut management: control, Ca, CaN, CaNP, CaNP-KCl, and CaNP-K(2)SO(4). The aim of this study was (1) to identify effects of fertilizer application on biomass and species composition of bryophytes and (2) to investigate the impact of fertilizer application on macro- (N, P, K, Ca, Mg), micro- (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn), and toxic (As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni) element concentrations in bryophyte biomass. In June 2006, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus was the only bryophyte species recorded in the control. In treatment Ca, R. squarrosus was the dominant bryophyte species whereas Brachythecium rutabulum occurred sporadically only in a single plot of that treatment. The latter was the only bryophyte species collected in CaN, CaNP, CaNP-KCl, and CaNP-K(2)SO(4) treatments. Dry matter accumulation of bryophytes was highest in the control (180 g m (-aEuro parts per thousand 2)) followed by Ca (46 g m (-aEuro parts per thousand 2)), CaNP (25 g m (-aEuro parts per thousand 2)), CaNP-KCl (15 g m (-aEuro parts per thousand 2)), CaNP-K(2)SO(4) (9 g m (-aEuro parts per thousand 2)), and CaN (2 g m (-aEuro parts per thousand 2)) treatments. A negative correlation between biomass production of bryophytes and dry matter production of vascular plants was revealed up to a threshold value of 400 g m (-aEuro parts per thousand 2). Above this limit, biomass production of bryophytes remained obviously unaffected by further increase in biomass production of vascular plants. A significant effect of treatment on As, Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, P, Ca, Mg, K, and N concentrations was revealed. Concentrations of these elements were a function of amount of elements supplied with fertilizers. Bryophytes seem to be promising bio-indicators not only for airborne deposition of toxic element but also for fertilizer introduced as well.

• 出版日期2010-7