Organic and inorganic phosphorus differentially influence invasive forbs

• Published in: Flora. Morphologie, Geobotanik, Oekophysiologie Vol. 263; p. 151532
• Main Authors: Yang, Jian-Xia, Peng, Yang, He, Wei-Ming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier GmbH 01.02.2020
• Subjects: biomass; chlorophyll; Conyza canadensis; Eupatorium; flora; Growth; inorganic phosphorus; Invasive forb; invasive species; Leaf traits; leaves; phytic acid; Root surface area; soil; Soil phosphorus; Solidago canadensis; Invasive forb; Root surface area; Soil phosphorus; Growth; Leaf traits
• ISSN: 0367-2530; 1618-0585
• DOI: 10.1016/j.flora.2019.151532

•We tested how organic P (Po) and inorganic P (Pi) affect invasive forbs.•Invasives produced more biomass and larger root and leaf area with Po than Pi.•Invasives grew better with Po than Pi, but some Pi and Po were lethal to them. Inorganic phosphorus (Pi) and organic P (Po) occur simultaneously in field soils, and little is known about how they influence the performance of invasive plants. We conducted an experiment, in which three invasive forbs, Conyza canadensis, Eupatorium adenophora, and Solidago canadensis, were subject to 15 P treatments. Three species utilized AlPO4 as a P source; C. canadensis used seven Po sources, and E. adenophora and S. canadensis utilized nine Po sources. Al(PO3)3, Fe4(P2O7)3, FePO4, and phytic acid were lethal to C. canadensis, so was Al(PO3)3 lethal to E. adenophora. Three species produced more biomass and larger areas of roots and leaves with Po sources than Pi sources; C. canadensis and S. canadensis had similar leaf chlorophyll between Pi and Po, E. adenophora had higher chlorophyll with Po than Pi. The total biomass was positively correlated with areas of roots and leaves. These findings suggest that soil Po might favor the three invasive forbs to grow better.