Peatland Vascular Plant Leaf N Concentrations (5 species) From Leaves collected from N-Addition plots in an Alberta Poor Fen, 2011-2015

• Main Authors: R Kelman Wieder, Dale H Vitt, Melanie A Vile, Jeremy A Graham, Jeremy A Hartsock, Jacqueline M.A. Popma, Hope Fillingim, Melissa House, James C Quinn, Kimberli D Scott, Meaghan Petix, Kelly J McMillen
• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: Environmental Data Initiative 2020
• Subjects: Villanova Peatland Biogeochemistry Group; MLPF; fens; peatland; nitrogen; vascular plants; leaf; deposition; Eriophorum Eriophorum vaginatum; Chamaedaphne Chamaedaphne calyculata; Andromeda Andromeda polifolia; Vaccinium Vaccinium oxycoccos; Scheuchzeria Scheuchzeria palustris; Eriophorum vaginatum; Chamaedaphne calyculata; Andromeda polifolia; Vaccinium oxycoccos; Scheuchzeria palustris; Canada; Fort McMurray; Mariana Lake
• Online Access: https://pasta.lternet.edu/package/metadata/eml/edi/479/1

Development of the oil sands has led to increasing atmospheric N deposition, with values as high as 17 kg N ha-1 yr-1; regional background levels <2 kg N ha-1 yr-1. To examine responses to N deposition, over five years, we experimentally applied N (as NH4NO3) to a poor fen near Mariana Lake, Alberta, at rates of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 kg N ha-1 yr-1, plus controls (no water or N addition). In July of each year, we collected new growth of 5 species of vascular plants, returned them to the lab, cleaned them, dried and ground them, and ran them on a Flash EA 1112 Series CN Soil Analyzer Leaf N concentrations in C. calyculata, A. polifolia, and V. oxycoccos increased significantly with increasing N addition (Fig. 5). For C. calyculata and A. polifolia, there were differences in N concentrations between years, but the regression slopes describing the response to N addition were consistent across all years. Leaf N concentrations were unaffected by N addition for E. vaginatum and S. palustris, with the latter exhibiting interannual differences in leaf N concentrations. Water addition alone had no significant effect on N concentrations for any of the vascular plant species (p >= 0.67).