Inferior plant competitor allocates more biomass to belowground as a result of greater competition for resources in heterogeneous habitats

Nutrient heterogeneity in soil widely exists nature and can have significant impacts on plant growth, biomass allocation, competitive interactions. However, limited research has been done to investigate the interspecific intensity between two clonal species a heterogeneous habitat. Therefore, this greenhouse experiment was conducted with species, Phragmites australis Scirpus planiculumis , exposed homogeneous patches of nutrients at five different planting ratios (0:4, 1:3, 2:2, 3:1 4:0), assess effects both competition growth. It found that nutrient significantly enhanced P. ’ capacity by promoting 20% increase belowground allocation. Interestingly, ratio did not affect magnitude net outcome. In contrast, superior competitor S. exhibit change growth indicators patches. These findings imply uncertainties associated human-induced redistribution may lead shift dominance from other those like which strong foraging abilities response emergent wetland communities.