On the phosphorus budget of a perennial herbSolidago altissima population

The same methods were used to study the phosphorus budget of aSolidago altissima population on the flood plain of the Tone River as were used for the nitrogen budget studies. The standing crop of phosphorus and the phosphorus flow through the population were determined seasonally and annually. The annual absorption of phosphorus was 2.25 g/m²/year, which is the same as the annual return to the environment. Turnover rates of phosphorus were calculated. Whether expressed seasonally or annually, turnover rates of phosphorus were larger than those of nitrogen. Phosphorus utility, net dry matter productivity of a unit amount of phosphorus absorbed, in this population was 1,060. This was in the range reported on other perennial herb communities. Phosphorus cycling in the population was quantified. Total phosphorus input to organs and the amount of phosphorus recycled in the living plants were 3.67 g/m²/year and 1.42 g/m²/year, respectively. The proportion of recycling to the total movement of phosphorus in the plant was 39%, which was lower than that of nitrogen. Comparing the phosphorus and nitrogen budgets in the population, it was concluded that larger recycling of an element results in a smaller turnover rate of the element in the population.