The Effects of Waterlogging on the Growth of Molinia Caerulea and Eriophorum Vaginatum

Abstract

Under waterlogging, accompanied by reducing conditions, the yield and root penetration of Eriophorum vaginatum was greater than that of Molinia caerulea. In these conditions, the addition of nutrients as chlorides produced an increase in yield in both species; nutrients added as sulphates, however, produced no increase in yield. The redox potentials in the peat were lowered and root penetration was inhibited with sulphates but not with chlorides. Chemical analyses of plant material and of aqueous extracts of peat suggested that while phosphorus was in adequate supply, nitrogen may have been deficient under waterlogged conditions. There were no conclusive differences between species however. The absence of a differential response to added nutrients was interpreted as showing that the lower yield of Molinia was not directly due to nutrient deficiency.