Decline of acid‐sensitive plant species in heathland can be attributed to ammonium toxicity in combination with low pH
- 25 January 2005
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in New Phytologist
- Vol. 166 (2), 551-564
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2005.01338.x
Abstract
The effects of increasing ammonium concentrations in combination with different pH levels were studied on five heathland plant species to determine whether their occurrence and decline could be attributed to ammonium toxicity and/or pH levels. Plants were grown in growth media amended with four different ammonium concentrations (10, 100, 500 and 1000 micromol l(-1)) and two pH levels resembling acidified (pH 3.5 or 4) and weakly buffered (pH 5 or 5.5) situations. Survival of Antennaria dioica and Succisa pratensis was reduced by low pH in combination with high ammonium concentrations. Biomass decreased with increased ammonium concentrations and decreasing pH levels. Internal pH of the plants decreased with increasing ammonium concentrations. Survival of Calluna vulgaris, Deschampsia flexuosa and Gentiana pneumonanthe was not affected by ammonium. Moreover, biomass increased with increasing ammonium concentrations. Biomass production of G. pneumonanthe reduced at low pH levels. A decline of acid-sensitive species in heathlands was attributed to ammonium toxicity effects in combination with a low pH.Keywords
This publication has 45 references indexed in Scilit:
- Differential effects of nitrate and ammonium on three fen bryophyte species in relation to pollutant nitrogen inputNew Phytologist, 2004
- Soil ammonium accumulation after sod cutting hampers the restoration of degraded wet heathlandsJournal of Applied Ecology, 2003
- Heathland restoration in The Netherlands: Effects of turf cutting depth on germination of Arnica montanaApplied Vegetation Science, 2003
- Ecosystem recovery after a decrease in nitrogen input to a Scots pine stand at Ysselsteyn, the NetherlandsForest Ecology and Management, 1998
- The Vegetation N:P Ratio: a New Tool to Detect the Nature of Nutrient LimitationJournal of Applied Ecology, 1996
- Influence of NH3 and SO2 on the growth and competitive ability of Arnica montana L. and Viola canina LNew Phytologist, 1992
- Effect of Low Root Medium pH on Net Proton Release, Root Respiration, and Root Growth of Corn (Zea mays L.) and Broad Bean (Vicia faba L.)Plant Physiology, 1992
- Effects of ammonium and aluminium on the development and nutrition of Pinus nigra in hydrocultureEnvironmental Pollution, 1991
- Ammonium toxicity: description of the syndrome in Sinapis alba and the search for its causationPhysiologia Plantarum, 1989
- BIOCHEMICAL DISPOSAL OF EXCESS H+IN GROWING PLANTS?New Phytologist, 1986