Production and Chemical Composition of Saururus Cernuus L. at Sites of Different Fertility

Total dry matter standing crops of Saururus cernuus L. at 25 sites in the southeastern United States ranged from 445 to 2,250 g/m 2 . Aboveground production ranged from 184 to 1.199 g/m 2 and averaged 54.9% of the total production. Total and shoot standing crops increased with increasing concentrations of dilute—acid—soluble phosphorus in soils and increasing soil pH. Concentration of inorganic nutrients varied considerably in plants from different sites. The ratio of cell—wall constituents in shoots was greater at sites supporting high shoot standing crops than at sites with lower shoot production. Crude protein comprised from 9.06% to 16.12% of the dry weight of shoots from different stands. Total available carbohydrate in roots averaged 17.1%. Greater quantities of carbohydrate accumulated in roots at productive sites, but the percentage carbohydrate content of roots was not correlated with standing crop.