Primary productivity and nitrogen, carbon, and biomass distribution in a dense Myrica gale stand

SCHWINTZER, C. R. 1983. Primary productivity and nitrogen, carbon, and biomass distribution in a dense My)-ica gale stand. Can. J. Bot. 61: 2943-2948. Aboveground vascular vegetation was harvested in twenty 0.25-m' plots at the end of the growing season in a weakly minerotrophic, central Massachusetts peatland. The materials were separated by species and component and the Myrica gale fractions analyzed for N and C content. Myrica gale strongly dominated the site, contributing 66% of the total aboveground biomass and 74% of the main canopy leaf area. Its shoots had a mean density of 69 stems m-' and mean height of 63 cm and reached a maximum age of 7 years. Myricn gale aboveground biomass was 604 g m-' with stems contributing 75%, leaves 24%, and reproductive organs 2%. Similar patterns of biomass distribution have been reported in other peatland low shrubs. Aboveground net production was 392 g m-' and total net production estimated to be 549 g m-"ear-'. Nitrogen contents were higher than in other peatland shrubs and ranged from 0.94% in stems 2 3 years old to about 2.4% in leaves, nodules, and male flower buds. Carbon contents ranged from 50% in stems 2 3 years old to 56% in male flower buds. The N content of total annual net production was estimated to be 8.6 g m-' and the C content 281 g m-'. Nitrogen fixation provided 43% of the estimated annual N requirement.