TY - JOUR
T1 - Research observation
T2 - Nitrogen effects on Arizona cotton-top and Lehmann lovegrass seedlings
AU - Fernandez-Giménez, Maria E.
AU - Smith, Steven E.
PY - 2004/1
Y1 - 2004/1
N2 - We compared the responses of seedlings of introduced Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis Lehmanniana Nees) and a native perennial grass, Arizona cottontop (Digitaria californica (Benth.) Henr.) to 7 nitrogen and 2 water treatments to determine if Lehmann lovegrass displayed greater growth or nitrogen use efficiency than Arizona cottontop. After 8 weeks, the lovegrass seedlings had greater shoot N concentrations (2.07 vs. 1.20%), and lower C:N ratios (27.7 vs. 49.6) than Arizona cottontop seedlings. Arizona cottontop seedlings produced more biomass per plant (1.09 vs. 0.31g), exhibited greater nitrogen use efficiency (63 vs. 39%), and tolerated high N levels better. Arizona cottontop may be a superior N competitor under both N-limited and high N conditions, while Lehmann lovegrass may outcompete Arizona cottontop at moderate N levels.
AB - We compared the responses of seedlings of introduced Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis Lehmanniana Nees) and a native perennial grass, Arizona cottontop (Digitaria californica (Benth.) Henr.) to 7 nitrogen and 2 water treatments to determine if Lehmann lovegrass displayed greater growth or nitrogen use efficiency than Arizona cottontop. After 8 weeks, the lovegrass seedlings had greater shoot N concentrations (2.07 vs. 1.20%), and lower C:N ratios (27.7 vs. 49.6) than Arizona cottontop seedlings. Arizona cottontop seedlings produced more biomass per plant (1.09 vs. 0.31g), exhibited greater nitrogen use efficiency (63 vs. 39%), and tolerated high N levels better. Arizona cottontop may be a superior N competitor under both N-limited and high N conditions, while Lehmann lovegrass may outcompete Arizona cottontop at moderate N levels.
KW - Desert grassland
KW - Invasive plant
KW - Nitrogen dynamics
KW - Nitrogen use efficiency
KW - Plant strategies
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=23844491184&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=23844491184&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2111/1551-5028(2004)057[0076:roneoa]2.0.co;2
DO - 10.2111/1551-5028(2004)057[0076:roneoa]2.0.co;2
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:23844491184
VL - 57
SP - 76
EP - 81
JO - Rangeland Ecology and Management
JF - Rangeland Ecology and Management
SN - 1550-7424
IS - 1
ER -