Abstract
In controlled N-nutrition experiments, differences in δ15N composition of leaves and roots are regularly found. In this paper we report results from a survey of nitrogen stable isotope signatures of leaves and roots of 16 plant species growing under natural conditions in a meadow and a forest understorey, which differed in nitrate and ammonium availability. Significant differences between leaf and root were observed. The range of Δ15N [leaf-root] values was -0.97 to +0.86‰, small compared to published values from controlled N-nutrition experiments, but almost as large as the range of leaf δ15N values (-1.04 to +1.08‰). Forbs showed the largest differences between leaves and roots and showed a significant difference with respect to habitat. Grasses and legumes did not show significant differences in Δ15N [leaf-root], between the two habitats. Care must be taken when using leaf δ15N values as representative for whole-plant 15N composition in these two habitats.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 29-39 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies |
Volume | 39 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2003 |
Keywords
- Ammonium
- Forbs
- Grasses
- Legumes
- Natural abundance
- Nitrate
- Nitrogen
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Chemistry
- General Environmental Science
- Inorganic Chemistry