On the Comparative Allocations of Biomass, Energy, and Nutrients in Plants

Abstract

The objective of this study was to test the assumption that biomass allocation, energy allocation, and nutrient element allocation are equivalent for studies involving ecological—strategy analysis in plants. The results for the semelparous Verbascum thapsus and five iteroparous Solidago species show that the mineral elements examined are allocated differently than biomass. Thus, in a study aimed at estimating the allocation strategy of plants within a population, it would not be prudent to measure biomass allocation and assume that it reflected nutrient allocation. More important, there are significant nutrient X population interactions, which means that between—population trends in biomass allocation do not reflect qualitative trends in mineral element allocation. The results of this study do not identify a given mineral element, biomass, or energy as the best measure of resource allocation patterns, but the study indicates that further research along the lines of the "currency" of allocation is greatly needed. Results with Solidago show strong correlation between biomass allocation and energy allocation. The reemphasizes Hickman and Pitelk's (1975) conclusion that calorimetry is not necessary to determine energy allocation patterns within populations in plants with primarily carbohydrate seed reserves. There was an overall lack of correlation between soil nutrients and the chemical composition of Solidago plant organs or whole plants.