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Abstract

In Umeå, Sweden, a manipulated plant biodiversity experiment was established in 1996, as part of the pan-European BIODEPTH project. Twelve species of grasses, legumes and other forbs were combined in experimental communities of 1 to 12 species. The composition of the communities was maintained by weeding during each summer. The vegetation was cut once a year in August. In June 2002 and 2003 one half of each plot was fertilized with 50 kg N ha-1 year-1 as ammonium nitrate. The most important factor for biomass production was the presence of legumes, regardless of fertilization treatment. In plant communities with legumes biomass also increased as the number of plant species increased. N-fertilization increased plant biomass in all plant communities without legumes, and in monocultures of all legumes except Trifolium pratense. The fertilisation-induced increases in biomass were highest in grass communities with Phalaris arundinacea and Dactylis glomerata. Fertilisation-induced increases in plant community biomass were also negatively correlated with the biomass of legumes in the unfertilized parts of the respective plots. Plant communities that produced less biomass with fertilization always included one or more Trifolium species. Possible mechanisms behind these patterns, such as occurrence of plant pathogens and competition between species are discussed

Keywords

ammonium nitrate; biodiversty; nitrogen uptake; competition; plant pathogens

Published in

Grassland Science in Europe
2004, volume: 9, pages: 183-185
Publisher: Organizing committee of the 20th General Meeting of the European Grassland Federation

Conference

Land Use Systems in Grassland Dominated Regions

SLU Authors

  • Huss-Danell, Kerstin

    • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

  • Palmborg, Cecilia

    • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

  • Carlsson, Georg

    • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences and Nature Conservation

Publication identifier

  • ISBN: 3728129402

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/3696