Research articles
ScienceAsia 51 (2026): 1-8 |doi:
10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.2026.096
Growth characteristics and N accumulation of Phragmites
karka in response to N addition: A candidate species for use
in tropical riparian buffers
Arunothai Jampeetonga,*, Hans Brixb, Manutsawan Manokienga
ABSTRACT: High nutrient runoff from fertilizers and livestock practices can significantly degrade water quality and
aquatic habitats. Riparian buffers act as a barrier zone, slowing down runoff and reducing the leaching of nutrients
into aquatic ecosystems. Plants play an important role in nutrient removal via root uptake. But they may lose their
effectiveness if they grow at very high levels of nutrients and pollutants. To find out how rising nitrogen levels affected
the growth, biomass production, and N accumulation of the tropical reed (Phragmites karka (Retz.) Trin. ex Steud.),
an experiment with nitrogen addition was conducted. Fifteen similarly-sized specimens were selected and grown in
containers filled with 8.5 l of a standard growth medium. The N level was progressively increased by weekly additions
of 1.4, 7, and 14 mg N l?1 (as NH4
NO3
) over 11 weeks. The results showed that N addition enhanced plant growth,
total plant biomass, and N accumulation in leaves and roots. The plants showed a preference for NH+
4
over NO
3
as the N
source. UnderhighNconcentrations, theplantsappearedtoadjusttheirNdemandbyincreasingtissueNaccumulation,
resulting in limited N removal capacities. Hence, our study demonstrates that P. karka positively responds to elevated
Nlevels and can adapt to high N availability.
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| a |
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200 Thailand |
| b |
Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ole Worms All? 1, Aarhus C 8000 Denmark |
* Corresponding author, E-mail: Arunothai.2519@gmail.com
Received 5 Jul 2024, Accepted 0 0000
|
