Shoot development and production studies of phragmites Australis (Cav.) Trin. Ex Steudel in Scottish Lochs

Studies were made on the development and production of Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel (= Phragmites communis Trin.) stands from Forfar Loch-polytrophic, Balgavies Locheutrophic and Loch of the Lowes-mesotrophic. Differences were detected in the shoot height, shoot dry weight, standing crop biomass, leaf area index, crop growth rate and net efficiency of solar energy conversion among the three lochs. Such differences were partly due to the different nutrient levels of the three locations. The percentage ratio of leaf to shoot weight, leaf area ratio, relative growth rate and net assimilation rate for the reed stands in the three lochs were also calculated and were compared with values from other study areas.