Model
Digital Document
Publisher
Florida Atlantic University
Description
The aim of this study was to determine the effects of nutrient supply and artificial
defoliation on the growth rate of water hyacinth. The plants were subjected to two levels
of nutrient (high and low) and three levels (0%, 10% and 80%) of defoliation treatment.
The effect of the nutrient and repeated defoliation treatments was detem1ined after six
weeks. Ten percent defoliation did not show any significant difference from control
plants in biomass allocation or relative growth rate (RGR) in either nutrient
concentration, while 80% defoliation caused a significant decrease in the final RGR
under high and low nutrient treatments. High nutrient treatment resulted in higher RGR
and allocation to asexual reproduction, resulting in higher biomass accumulation
compared to the low nutrient treatment, which had higher root growth and allocation to
sexual reproduction. My data provide evidence that water hyacinth can fully compensate
to low levels of defoliation.
defoliation on the growth rate of water hyacinth. The plants were subjected to two levels
of nutrient (high and low) and three levels (0%, 10% and 80%) of defoliation treatment.
The effect of the nutrient and repeated defoliation treatments was detem1ined after six
weeks. Ten percent defoliation did not show any significant difference from control
plants in biomass allocation or relative growth rate (RGR) in either nutrient
concentration, while 80% defoliation caused a significant decrease in the final RGR
under high and low nutrient treatments. High nutrient treatment resulted in higher RGR
and allocation to asexual reproduction, resulting in higher biomass accumulation
compared to the low nutrient treatment, which had higher root growth and allocation to
sexual reproduction. My data provide evidence that water hyacinth can fully compensate
to low levels of defoliation.
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