Temperature Effect on Growth and Nutrient Contents in Eriophorum vaginatum under Controlled Environmental Conditions

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Abstract
E. vaginatum L. was grown hydroponically for 80 d [day] under controlled environmental conditions at 2, 5, 10, 15 and 20.degree. C. Biomass increase, leaf and root surface areas, and tiller formation rates were determined for plants grown at each temperature. The optimum temperature for leaf growth was above 20.degree. C; root growth peaked between 15-20.degree. C air temperature. At 5.degree. C, 20% of the maximum root biomass was formed. Increases in total biomass in 80 d ranged from 1.6-fold at 2.degree. C to 9.8-fold at 20.degree. C. Tillering was most active at 15.degree. C where 19 new tillers per mother tiller developed during the experimental period. Total N in the leaves, stems and roots decreased with increasing temperatures. P uptake appeared unrelated to temperature treatments. E. vaginatum has a broad temperature range for growth without the very low temperature optimum which could be expected from an arctic plant.