Polysaccharide addition effects on rhizosphere nitrogen fixation rates of the California cordgrass, Spartina foliosa

Published source details Cohen R.A., Walker K. & Carpenter E.J. (2009) Polysaccharide addition effects on rhizosphere nitrogen fixation rates of the California cordgrass, Spartina foliosa. Wetlands, 29, 1063-1069.
Share Tweet Email

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Add below-ground organic matter before/after planting non-woody plants: brackish/saline wetlands Action Link

Add below-ground organic matter before/after planting non-woody plants: brackish/saline wetlands

A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 2005 in a greenhouse in California, USA (Cohen et al. 2009) found that adding alginate after planting California cordgrass Spartina foliosa had no significant effect on the number of shoots, plant height or plant biomass. After nine weeks, plants with added alginate had a statistically similar number of shoots (3.1 shoots/plant) to plots without added alginate (2.8 shoots /plant). Plants with and without added alginate were also of a statistically similar average height and above-ground biomass (data not reported). Methods: In spring 2005, twelve cordgrass plants were collected from salt marshes and planted in individual pots of natural wetland sediment. The pots were placed in a greenhouse with simulated tides. After 45 days acclimation, alginate (a carbon-rich seaweed extract) was added to a trench around six random plants (15 g/plant). A trench was dug around the other six plants but no alginate was added. The number of shoots (ramets) and the maximum height of each plant were measured for nine weeks after intervention. Plants were harvested, dried and weighed after nine weeks.

(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)