Biomass and Mineral Composition of Aquatic Macrophytes in the Hygam Wetland,Kashmir with Reference to Substrate Nutrients

The wetland of 56 ha is situated at a height of 1565 m in the valley of the Jehlum river. Among macrophytes prevail Typha, Phragmites, Scirpus and Sparganium, and they are investigated at eight stations in the annual cycle. The mineral composition of the aboveground and belowground biomass and of the sediment was determined. The mean total biomass shows considerable variations, but also a pronounced annual variation with the summer maximum of 1445 g/m² above-ground and 1550 g/m² below-ground. The mineral constituents show clearly decreasing concentrations during the season of vegetation as far as potassium, calcium, magnesium and nitrogen are concerned, the nutrient contents lying between 0.041 and 1.9% P or 0.57 and 1.65 % N. In a regression analysis the biomasses show significant multiple regressions to concentrations of chloride-ions, nitrogen and partly TPP and oxygen in the water and sediment.