Carbohydrate and nutrient content in rhizomes of Phragmites australis from different habitats of Lake FertÕ/Neusiedlersee

Changes in the soluble sugar, starch, total non-structural carbohydrate (TNC) and nutrient (N, P, K) concentration in the reed rhizome were investigated in different reed habitat types in Lake Fertõ/Neusiedlersee during the vegetation period in 1993 to 94. Three die-back and four vigorous reed stands were monitored.For biomass estimations rhizomes were collected twice, in early summer and in autumn. They were calculated to be 1.9 to 2.7 kg/m² at die-back and 3.1 to 6.1 kg/m² at vigorous sites.The carbohydrate and nutrient concentrations of the reed rhizomes were high at the beginning of the vegetation period; they reached their minima in May–June, which was followed by a gradual increase until the end of the vegetation period. From autumn to spring the concentrations decreased, e.g. TNC concentration by 15 to 40% at vigorous, 50 to 70% at die-back sites.In both years the lowest carbohydrate concentrations were recorded at the end of May, a month before the inflorescence developed (vigorous sites: 50–70 mg TNC/g, die-back sites: 70–120 mg TNC/g). In that period the standing stock of the TNC in the rhizome did not separate the sites clearly, and the smallest carbohydrate standing stock was measured at a vigorous site with a high water cover.At the beginning of summer and in autumn the soluble sugar, TNC and N concentration values were higher at the die-back than at the vigorous sites but the standing stock was higher at the vigorous sites. In autumn the TNC standing stock of the rhizomes was between 780 and 1200 g/m² at vigorous, between 380 and 690 g/m² at die-back sites. This is especially important for the reactions and resistance of die-back reed stands to unfavourable conditions.