15N uptake and distribution in grasses growing under Nothofagus antarctica vs. grasses in an open site

GARGAGLIONE V.; PERI P.L.; BAHAMONDE H.

Congreso; XVIII International Plant Nutrition Colloquium; 2017

University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen

As nitrogen is usually a limiting nutrient in most of the ecosystems, we aimed to know how grasses utilize and distribute available N when they are growing in open areas or close to trees. 15N atom excess was detected in all components of grasses: leaves, tillers and roots, although the aerial components had the highest concentrations. Grasses growing under N. antartica trees absorbed twice as much 15N than grasses developing in the open grassland. This may indicated that trees facilitated N absorption by grasses since they may improve environmental conditions like for instance, reducing water stress by protecting from strong winds.