Studies on the Decomposition of a Duckweed (Lemnaceae) Community

Changes in dry weight and N, P, K, Na, Ca, Mg, Al, and Fe content were studied over a 525-day period in decomposing Typha glauca and Scirpus fluviatilis shoots. Submerged Typha litter decomposed more rapidly than submerged Scirpus litter, losing 50% of its original dry weight in 325 days while Scirpus litter still retained 62% of its original dry weight after 525 days. Major pathways of mineral flow from standing litter were (1) leaching during the first few weeks after shoot death and (2) fragmentation and litter fall during the rest of the study. Mineral losses from fallen litter were mainly due to leaching or to excretion by microbial populations associated with the litter. Microbial uptake (N, P) and adsorption (Ca, Al, Fe) were important processes in the fallen litter. After 525 days, as a result of the combined action of mineral uptake and release, Typha litter had net releases of N (71 kg/ha), P(10 kg/ha), K (123 kg/ha), Na (94 kg/ha), Ca (41 kg/ha), and Mg (25 kg/ha) and net accumulations of Al (21 kg/ha) and Fe (20 kg/ha). Scirpus litter, during this same period, had net releases of N (10 kg/ha), K (9 kg/ha), and Na (11 kg/ha). All other minerals increased in decomposing Scirpus litter: P (8 kg/ha), Ca (55 kg/ha), Mg (5 kg/ha), Al (13 kg/ha), and Fe (11 kg/ha). At the end of the study, the calculated combined dry weight of undecomposed standing and fallen litter had decreased by only 20% in Typha litter and 14% in Scirpus litter. Most of the biomass and minerals were in the fallen litter.

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“…1975), floating (Karim 1948;Laube and Wohler 1973), and emergent (Latter and Cragg 1967;Boyd 1970;Mason and Bryant 1975) macrophytes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The decomposition of standing and fallen litter of Typha glauca and Scirpus fluviatilis

Davis¹,

Valk²

1978

Can. J. Bot.

115

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Plant Nutrient Phytoremediation Using Duckweed

Landesman

Fedler

Duan

2010

Eutrophication: Causes, Consequences and Control

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Over the last 40 years a great deal of research has been published on the use of duckweed to treat wastewater both from point sources (feedlots, food processing plants) and from non-point sources. These plants can recover nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from contaminated waters in those agricultural practices. They can also remove or accumulate metals, radionuclides, and other pollutants in their tissues. In addition, the duckweed can be used as a feed source for livestock and poultry as well as an energy source for biofuel production. A summary of some of the published work done using duckweed species to phytoremediate natural, domestic, industrial, and agricultural wastewaters is presented.

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Studies on decomposition of two species of Salvina

Sharma

Goel

1986

Hydrobiologia

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Decomposition of two species of Salvina, S. molesta Mitchell and S. cucullata Roxb. was studied for 220 days by the litter bag method. Salvinia molesta decomposes faster in the initial stages and S. cucullata in the later stages of decomposition. The release of nutrients is rapid during the first seven days and is ascribed to leaching. The rate of release of nutrients differs in the two species, with higher rates for P, Ca and Mg in S. molesta and for N in S. cucullata.

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Studies on the Decomposition of a Duckweed (Lemnaceae) Community

Cited by 15 publications

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The decomposition of standing and fallen litter of Typha glauca and Scirpus fluviatilis

The decomposition of standing and fallen litter of Typha glauca and Scirpus fluviatilis

Plant Nutrient Phytoremediation Using Duckweed

Studies on decomposition of two species of Salvina

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