Plant-specific effects of iron-toxicity in wetlands
article
Background and aims: Understanding the potential effects of iron toxicity on plant development is important when constructing new wetland from iron-rich sediment. We aim to study plant species-specific effects of iron toxicity when grown in the iron-rich sediments of lake Markermeer (the Netherlands). Methods: Using three sediment sources that varied in total Fe and Fe-P concentrations, we performed a greenhouse experiment to study the development of three wetland species that differ in their tolerance to iron and utilization capacity of Fe-P: Rumex maritimus, Phragmites australis and Eupatorium cannabinum. Results: Phragmites australis was the only species that developed an epidermis-damaging iron plaque on its roots. Plaque formation mainly depended on the Fe(III) and Fe-P concentration of the sediment, which led to different nutrient imbalances in leaves. All three species showed reduced growth compared to the control substrate, which could not be linked to indirect Fe toxicity. In contrast, direct Fe toxicity following the uptake of Fe could not be excluded as a mechanism potentially explaining our results, and this result warrants further examination in longer-term experiments. Conclusions: Our results highlight the importance of considering the Fe and Fe-P availability in sediments, as these properties may constrain plant performance and delay the development of pioneer ecosystems in wetland construction sites. © 2017, The Author(s).
Topics
BiogeochemistryEupatorium cannabinumIron plaqueN:P ratioPhragmites australisRumex maritimusbiogeochemistryconstructed wetlandexperimentgrassherbironleafnitrogennutrient uptakephosphorussedimentsediment pollutiontolerancetoxicityMarkermeerNetherlandsEupatorium cannabinumPhragmites australisRumex maritimus
TNO Identifier
954852
ISSN
0032079X
Source
Plant and Soil, 416(1-2), pp. 83-96.
Pages
83-96
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