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Carbon, Nitrogen, And Phosphorus Leaching Rates From Spartina Alterniflora Salt Marshes, R. Eugene Turner

Faculty Publications

Annual carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus leachate rates from live Spartina alterniflora Loisel in a Louisiana (USA) salt marsh were estimated to be 200, 14, and 3 g m-2, respectively, and to peak in summer and higher salinit~es. Leachate losses of P, N and C are equivalent to a turnover of live plant tissues of 10, 17 and 49 d, respectively, when submerged, and 148, 250 and 721 d, respectively, when unsubmerged. Plant leachate losses during marsh submergence and non-submergence are nearly equal because release rates are 15x greater during submergence. Nitrogen and carbon concentrations relative to phosphorus are proportionately 4x …