Ecological Aspects of the Nutrition of Deschampsia Flexuosa (L.) Trin.: II. The Effects of A1, Ca, Fe, K. Mn, N, P and PH on the Growth of Seedlings an Established Plants

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Abstract
The nutritional conditions of acid soils have been compared with the nutrient requirements of the calcifuge grass Deschampsia flexuosa as determined in factorial water culture experiments. D. flexuosa tolerated high Al well, and low Al stimulated growth. Low pH was not harmful, but pH 5.7 was optimal, which is above the species'' range in Britain. Widely differing supplies of Ca, Fe, Mn, and K had only insignificant effects on growth. Optimal N concentration was low, and below this point at least, NH+ 4 and NO- 3 were equally good sources of N. The results for P were conflicting. No interactions were observed between any of the factors in their effects on the growth of D. flexuosa, which suggested that the species is singularly insensitive to nutrient imbalance. Since the apparent benefits of the low N levels in acid soils would be counteracted by the suboptimal pH, and since no special level of requirement for Ca, Fe, Mn, or K was demonstrated, it was concluded that the soils which naturally support this species cannot favor it very much nutritionally. No conclusion could be reached about the importance of P, and further discussion of this question was left until Part HI.