Influence of Spartina Alterniflora on Nitrogen Loss from Marsh Soil

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The influence of Spartina alterniflora, a common salt marsh macrophyte, on loss of NH4+‐N from a Louisiana salt marsh soil was examined in the greenhouse. Labelled NH4+‐N, equivalent to approximately 100 µg N/g soil, was added in 10 installments over 18 weeks to undrained soil cores with and without stands of S. alterniflora. In the presence of S. alterniflora, 93% and 94% of the added N was recovered from constantly flooded and alternately flooded and dried soil, respectively. In the absence of S. alterniflora, loss of added NH4+‐N was greater; only about 56% of the added N was recovered from constantly flooded soil. Actively growing S. alterniflora apparently assimilated the inorganic soil N before it could be lost in gaseous form via nitrification‐denitrification reactions.
Funding Information
  • U.S. Department of Commerce
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration