Do soil and leaf silicon content affect leaf functional traits in Deschampsia caespitosa from different habitats?

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to show the extent of phenotypic plasticity of the grass Deschampsia caespitosa from four habitats with different soil properties by comparing selected leaf traits and content of silicon and other elements. Morphological, biochemical, and optical properties were examined in leaves, but content of silicon and other elements also in soil samples. Plant-available silicon in the soil was determined following extraction in CaCl2. Bulk element analysis was conducted using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The habitats of D. caespitosa differed significantly according to soil structure, which resulted in significantly different leaf traits, including leaf optical properties and content of minerals. There was no correlation between leaf silicon and plant-available or total soil silicon, while positive correlation was seen between leaf calcium and total soil calcium. In addition, plant-available silicon showed strong positive correlation with leaf calcium and phosphorus. The majority of D. caespitosa leaf and soil properties differed significantly among habitats.