Responses to internal nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations of two Taraxacum microspecies of contrasting mineral ecology: critical N and P concentrations of whole plants

Abstract

Of the two Taraxacum microspecies used. Taraxacum sellandii Dahlst. usually occurs in grasslands with a high nutrient level; Taraxacum nordstedtii Dahlst. is generally restricted to undisturbed and mineral‐poor habitats. Growth response curves for internal N and P were established, based on relative yield of (whole) plant tissue water and (whole plant) internal mineral concentration on a tissue water basis. Critical nutrient concentrations of N and P were determined from the response curves derived. For both macroelements, T. nordstedtii showed lower critical nutrient concentrations. The difference in critical N concentrations coincided with differences in internal NO3‐3 concentrations between the microspecies. Finally, we discuss the use of tissue water as a (whole) plant growth parameter and internal mineral concentration on tissue water basis as a parameter describing the mineral status.