Abstract
The purpose of this greenhouse experiment was to determine if differences in soil fertility or soil moisture recharge capacity could influence water relations or growth of Heterotheca, a common herb in abandoned agricultural fields on the coastal plain of South Carolina. Plants were grown from seed (1) in soil taken from two areas of an old field that differed in fertility and (2) with or without soil moisture recharge capacity from underlying soil. Stomatal conductance and xylem pressure potential did not differ with treatment, either over a daily cycle or during experimental droughts. Shoot biomass of Heterotheca was greater in the more fertile soil and with capacity for soil moisture recharge. Root biomass was greater in lower fertility soil and with soil moisture recharge. These results suggest that variations in soil fertility and moisture may contribute to differences in Heterotheca biomass but do not influence water relations.
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