氮输入对纳帕海沼泽湿地土壤氨挥发和反硝化的影响

选取纳帕海常见湿地植物茭草（Zizania caduciflora）和水葱（Scirpus validus）]及其生长土壤为对象,通过培养实验,研究了3个不同氮输入水平[0g-m^2（对照,NO）、20g-m^2（N20）、40g-m^2。（N40）]对茭草和水葱湿地土壤氨挥发和反硝化的影响。结果表明：氮输入促进了茭草和水葱湿地土壤氨挥发化作用,增加了湿地土壤氨挥发的累积量。适量的氮输入对湿地土壤氨挥发促进显著。在培养前期适量氮输入下的氨挥发积累量高于高水平氮输入的,随着培养时间的延长,后期适量氮输入下的积累量明显下降;而高水半氮输入处理下氨挥发积累量的明显增加,适量氮输入下茭草氨挥发积累大于水葱。氮输入增强了菱草和水葱湿地土壤反硝化作用,加快了反硝化N2O的排放。适量的氮输入促进茭草反硝化作用和反硝化损失量增加明显,培养的前期的适量氮输入处理下的反硝化作用和反硝化N2O的排放增强不明显,随着培养时间的延长,高水平氮输入处理下的反硝化损失量越明显,并且水葱较茭草更为明显。后期适量氮输入下的反硝化损失速率和反硝化损失量高于高水平氮输入,适量氮输入较高水平氮输人促进明显,高水平的氮输入限制了反硝化损失,反硝化N2O的排放总量下降,土壤中氮富集增大。     

模拟水深和氮添加对三江平原湿地植物功能性状的影响

水深和氮素是影响湿地植物生长的关键因素,研究两者对功能性状的影响有助于预测未来环境变化下湿地植物的生长与分布趋势.以三江平原沼泽湿地3种优势植物(漂筏苔草Carex pseudocuraica、毛苔草Carex lasiocarpa和燕子花Iris laevigata)为研究对象,设置3个水深(0、5、15 cm)和3个氮浓度(0、12、36 mmol/L)的双因子控制实验,探讨不同水深和氮添加对3种湿地植物功能性状的影响.结果显示,水深和氮添加对漂筏苔草根冠比和燕子花株高、地下与地上生物量及根冠比存在交互影响.在0 mmol/L氮浓度下,随着水深的增加,漂筏苔草根冠比降低,燕子花根冠比呈先降低后上升的趋势.在12 mmol/L氮浓度下,随着水深的增加,燕子花地下与地上生物量降低,根冠比增加.随着氮浓度的增加,燕子花株高在0、5 cm水深时降低,在15 cm水深时增加.水深对漂筏苔草叶面积、地下与地上生物量和燕子花叶面积有显著影响,随着水深的增加,漂筏苔草叶面积、地下与地上生物量呈先增加后下降的趋势,燕子花叶面积降低.氮添加对毛苔草株高、叶面积及根冠比有显著影响,随着氮浓度的增加,毛苔草株高和叶面积降低,根冠比呈先降低后上升的趋势.本研究表明湿地植物对水深和氮添加水平的响应依赖具体物种和功能性状指标而不同,未来还应加强湿地植物地下性状的研究.(图3表1参56)     

大气CO_2浓度升高和氮肥施用对三江平原湿地小叶章生物量及根冠比的影响

利用开顶箱薰气室(open-top chamber)试验装置,研究了不施氮(NN)、施常氮(MN,5 g·m-2)和施高氮(HN,15 g·m-2)3个氮素水平下大气CO2浓度升高对小叶章(Calamagrostis angustifolia)生物量和根冠比的影响.结果表明,大气CO2浓度升高对小叶章生物量的影响因生长期而异.大气CO2浓度升高对小叶章地上生物量的促进作用主要表现在生长前期,拔节期和抽穗期地上生物量较正常大气CO2浓度增加12.42%～22.60%,而腊熟期和成熟期仅增加3.11%～12.97%;大气CO2浓度升高对小叶章地下生物量的促进作用在生长后期表现明显,除拔节期外,小叶章地下生物量增加17.63%～42.20%.小叶章生物量和根冠比对大气CO2浓度的响应与供N水平有关.在HN水平下,大气CO2浓度升高使小叶章生物量和根冠比明显增加,在NN条件下促进作用则不显著.小叶章根冠比明显增加主要是地下生物量显著增长引起的.     

暖季型水生植物残体分解对冬季浮床氮去除效果的影响

为了解决尾水湿地冬季氮去除率不足和暖季型水生植物冬季集中分解引起的二次污染问题,设计了向冬季水芹菜(Oenanthe javanica)浮床人工湿地(FCW)添加芦苇(Phragmites australis)秸秆的小试实验,研究暖季型水生植物芦苇在冬季集中分解过程中对冷季型水生植物水芹菜的生长,以及对水芹菜浮床人工湿地冬季氮去除率的影响,旨在为解决低温条件下人工湿地氮净化效果减弱以及冬季湿地植物残体的收割管理提供指导意义。结果表明,在80d试验周期内,芦苇残体分解了33.4%;与对照(CK)相比,添加芦苇秸秆处理(FCW-L)可显著提高水芹菜的叶绿素含量、总根系活力以及生物量,水芹菜地上生物量增加了97.90g·m-2,地下生物量增加了20.30g·m-2。试验周期内,碳氮比ω(C)/ω(N)平均值由CK的3.8提升至FCW-L的13.1,而NO3--N、NH4+-N和TN累计去除率由CK的26.5%、41%和27.2%分别提升至FCW-L的90%、82%和73.4%。由此可见,冬季植物残体分解可以改善尾水湿地碳氮比失衡问题,提升冷季型水生植物浮床人工湿地冬季氮去除率。因此冷、暖季型水生植物配植可以作为一种提高尾水湿地冬季氮去除能力的新方法。     

模拟氮沉降对大豆萌发和幼苗生长的影响

氮沉降是当今倍受关注的全球性环境问题.采用大田试验和室内培养的方法,研究大豆种子萌发和幼苗生长对氮沉降的响应.实验设4组处理(CK、T1、T2、T3),所施氮肥为NH4NO3,在室内培养实验中,4组处理的浓度分别为0、0.08、0.16、0.24mol/L.大田实验中,4组处理的氮施入量分别为0,50,100,150 kg·hm-2·a-1.结果表明:过量氮沉降对种子萌发有一定的抑制作用,降低了种子的发芽速度和发芽率;抑制了幼苗的生长速度,降低了植株的株高、叶面积和生物量,并减小了根冠比;随着氮施入量的增加幼苗的蒸腾速率逐渐降低,但叶片叶绿素含量逐渐增加.     

外源氮输入对互花米草生长及叶特征的影响

入侵种互花米草（Spartina alterniflora）是滨海盐沼湿地的多年生草本植物,研究人类活动引起的外源氮输入对其生长的影响有助于了解滨海湿地生态系统结构和功能的未来变化趋势。运用随机区组试验设计方法,模拟海滩水分条件（间歇淹水和持续淹水）,研究了互花米草的地上部生物量、叶片光合特征以及形态特征对外源氮输入的响应。结果表明：互花米草地上部生物量在施氮条件下显著增加,且在土壤处于间歇淹水状态时表现更为明显;施氮条件下植株分蘖数比对照处理分别增加了60.0%和60.2%,是引起地上部生物量增加的主要原因。施加氮素促进了互花米草叶片的生长,叶面积、叶数、叶长和叶宽均显著增加,而叶数的变化是导致植物叶面积增加的主要因素。外源氮输入促进了互花米草叶绿素含量的增加,而对净光合速率的季节变化特征无明显影响。持续淹水处理的植物地上部生物量、生长速率、分蘖数、净光合速率和叶面积均低于间歇淹水处理,说明持续淹水状态对互花米草生长造成了一定的抑制作用。     

典型草原不同围封年限植被-土壤系统碳氮贮量的变化

以内蒙古太仆寺旗典型草原为研究对象,研究不同围封年限下的天然草地植物和土壤有机碳、全氮贮量的变化。结果表明：与自由放牧草地相比,重度退化草地采取生长季围封恢复措施后,群落植物和土壤环境在围封8、11、14、21、25年后均得到了明显的改善,地上植物和地下根系生物量及其碳氮贮量、土壤碳氮贮量明显增加,土壤容重降低。自由放牧地和围封8、11、14、21年植物-土壤系统碳贮量分别为7 357.93、7 988.27、8 413.18、12 878.82、8 934.66 g.m-2,氮贮量分别为427.78、494.28、575.49、707.35、615.09 g.m-2。草地围封至14年植物和土壤各项理化性质达到最大值,使得植物-土壤系统的碳氮贮量分别是自由放牧地的1.75和1.65倍,说明植被与土壤间达到了良性循环的状态,退化草地正向演替。随着围封年限的继续增加,其各项指标出现下降趋势。由此可知,季节性围封措施在一定时间内可使退化草地的土壤-植物系统的碳氮贮量增加,草地在一定程度上得到恢复,但适宜的恢复时间和合理利用问题有待进一步讨论。     

模拟氮沉降对入侵植物薇甘菊叶绿素荧光参数的影响

大气氮沉降的增加会对某些生态系统造成严重影响。入侵植物薇甘菊的蔓延是近年来威胁我国林业安全的一大难题。氮沉降量的增加可能会对薇甘菊光合作用效率产生影响。为进一步了解两者之间的关系,以NH4NO3（分析纯）为氮源,对生长着薇甘菊（Mikania micrantha）的木荷（Schima superba）人工林试验地进行模拟氮沉降处理。试验设置3个氮沉降试验组,分别为对照组N0（N：0 g·m-2·a-1）,试验组N5（N：5 g·m-2·a-1）和N10（N：10 g·m-2·a-1）,根据当地降水情况计算并定量人工喷施。于2013年6、8和11月分别测定试验地内薇甘菊的各项叶绿素荧光参数指标。结果显示,（1）各月份间,除非光化学猝灭（qN）6月份数值低于11月份外,各指标基本表现为8月份最高,6月份次之,11月份值最低的规律。在低温,相对干旱的11月,薇甘菊生长末期,氮素的增加对薇甘菊光合效率提高的帮助尤为明显。（2）各试验组间,N0组各指标值均低于N5组与N10组,氮沉降量的增加能够促进薇甘菊光合作用效率的提高,会对薇甘菊的生长具有促进作用。（3）试验组N5组与N10组之间无一致规律性,推测过高的氮素可能会抑制薇甘菊的生长。此推论有待于进一步实验证明。（4）在试验地自然条件下,大气氮沉降量的升高会促进薇甘菊光合作用效率的提高。该文可为大气氮沉降增加的生态影响的研究和薇甘菊入侵生态学研究提供一定的理论依据。     

大气CO2浓度升高和氮肥施用对三江平原湿地小叶章生物量及根冠比的影响

利用开顶箱薰气室（open—top chamber）试验装置,研究了不施氮（NN）、施常氮（MN,5g·m^2）和施高氮（HN,15g·m^2）3个氮素水平下大气CO2浓度升高对小叶章（Calamagrostis angustifolia）生物量和根冠比的影响。结果表明,大气CO2浓度升高对小叶章生物量的影响因生长期而异。大气CO2浓度升高对小叶章地上生物量的促进作用主要表现在生长前期,拔节期和抽穗期地上生物量较正常大气CO2浓度增加12．42％～22．60％,而腊熟期和成熟期仅增加3．11％～12．97％;大气CO2浓度升高对小叶章地下生物量的促进作用在生长后期表现明显,除拔节期外,小叶章地下生物量增加17．63％～42．20％。小叶章生物量和根冠比对大气CO2浓度的响应与供N水平有关。在HN水平下,大气CO2浓度升高使小叶章生物量和根冠比明显增加,在NN条件下促进作用则不显著。小叶章根冠比明显增加主要是地下生物量显著增长引起的。     

不同光环境下刈割对黑麦草补偿性生长及叶片氮含量的影响

补偿性生长(Compensatory growth)是植物对外界干扰的积极响应,其补偿能力与外界光环境密切相关,而刈割后造成草地冠层下光环境变化会对刈后植物的补偿性生长产生影响.为深入了解补偿性生长机制,通过设置自然光(Natural light,NL)、红光(Red light,RL)和遮荫(Shading,SH)3种光环境,模拟刈割后草地群落光环境变化,研究黑麦草(Lolium perenne)刈割两次后生物量累积、分配及叶片氮含量的变化,探讨其补偿性生长对光质和光强变化的响应.结果显示:(1)NL和RL下,刈割后黑麦草的累积地上生物量与未刈割处理相比分别增加了24.44%和14.06%,表现为超补偿生长,SH下刈割与未刈割处理并无显著差异,表现为等补偿生长;(2)刈割后黑麦草地下相对生长速率(RGR)仅RL表现为增加,而NL和SH均为降低,且SH在未刈割下已为负增长,说明RL下刈割后黑麦草地上部分的超补偿生长并未影响地下部分的生长,而NL和SH下地上部分发生补偿生长后均抑制了地下部分的生长;(3)光环境变化和刈割明显影响了黑麦草叶片中的氮含量,3种光环境中,刈割与不刈割下黑麦草叶片氮含量均为SH>NL>RL,而刈割处理显著增加了叶片氮含量,与未刈割相比分别增加了43.86%、21.58%和13.16%;(4)3种光环境下,刈割和不刈割黑麦草生物量分配与其叶片氮含量之间的相关性均达到了极显著水平(R2=0.84,P<0.001).本研究表明,黑麦草的补偿性生长与外部光环境密切相关,其补偿能力取决于刈后剩余叶片的光合效率;光质对刈后黑麦草生物量分配模式有重要影响,因此红光下地上部分的超补偿生长不以牺牲地下生长为代偿;叶片氮含量是影响植物补偿性生长的关键因素,黑麦草补偿性生长主要通过增加叶片氮含量来实现,而生物量分配则与叶片中氮含量的多少有关.     

云南高原常见湖滨湿地植物群落对生活污水氮的净化研究

湿地植物具有净化水质的特殊功能,研究不同湿地植物群落对生活污水净化效果及机理,对退化湿地的恢复与人工湿地的构建具有重要的理论和现实意义。选取小黑三棱＋杉叶藻＋荇菜（Com.Sparganium simplex＋Hippuris vulgaris＋Nymphoidespeltatum）、水葱＋睡菜＋荇菜（Com.Scirpus validus＋Menyanthes trifoliate＋Nymphoides peltatum）、菰＋荸荠＋荇菜（Com.Zizaniacaduciflora＋Heleocharis yunnanensis＋Nymphoides peltatum）和香蒲＋睡菜＋眼子菜（Com.Typha przewalskii＋Menyanthestrifoliate＋Potamogeton distinctus）等4种云南高原常见湖滨湿地植物群落作为实验材料进行水质净化模拟研究。结果表明：供试植物都能较好的适应生活污水环境,各植物全株氮质量分数在12.37～19.55 mg.g-1之间,各群落植物氮累积量为229～269 mg.m-2,对生活污水脱氮贡献率为10.11%～11.21%;各群落对生活污水TN的去除率都在75%以上,均显著高于无植物对照组（P〈0.05）,其中水葱＋睡菜＋荇菜（Scirpus validus＋Menyanthes trifoliate＋Nymphoides peltatum）群落对生活污水TN去除效果显著优于其他3种群落（P〈0.05）,去除率高达（93.79±1.27）%;试验期间,各群落污水N03--N与TN浓度之间显著负相关（r=–0.597,P〈0.05）,能很好的揭示氮的去除过程;各群落植物净增生物量与群落TN累积量显著正相关（r=0.953,P〈0.05）,表明收割植物可充分发挥湿地植物的脱氮潜力;植物群落能有效增强和促进湿地系统对污水中氮的净化能力,各植物群落对污水TN去除贡献率在29.24%～43.57%之间,群落内植物生长特性及其种间关系是各植物群落水质净化效果存在显著差异的主要原因。     

三江平原湿地典型植物群落氮的积累与分配

采用野外采样和室内分析结合的方法,研究了三江平原湿地典型植物群落氮的积累与分配特征。结果表明,小叶章（Calamagrostics angustifolia）、乌拉苔草（Carex meyeriana）和毛苔草（Carex lasiocarpa）群落地上器官氮含量不存在显著差异,根的氮含量存在显著差异,枯落物的氮含量表现为乌拉苔草群落〉小叶章群落〉毛苔草群落（p〈0.01）。小叶章、乌拉苔草和毛苔草群落不同部分的氮积累量和积累速率（VN）季节变化明显,三者地上器官、枯落物的氮积累量和VN表现为乌拉苔草群落〉小叶章群落〉毛苔草群落;三者根的氮积累量表现为小叶章群落〉毛苔草群落〉乌拉苔草群落,VN表现为毛苔草群落〉小叶章群落〉乌拉苔草群落。小叶章、乌拉苔草和毛苔草群落不同部分的氮分配比在各时期差异明显,根是重要的氮储库,其分配比高达（87.76±2.55）%、（79.84±7.53）%和（89.25±5.49）%;地上部分的氮分配比均以叶最高,茎较低;地上与地下的氮分配比呈相反变化规律,反映了其在氮供给方面的密切联系。     

臭氧和氮肥交互对小麦干物质生产、N、P、K含量及累积量的影响

利用中日合作建立的亚洲首个稻麦轮作开放式臭氧浓度升高（ozone-free air controlled enrichment,O3-FACE）平台,选取小麦品种（Tritcium aestivum）扬麦16为试材,研究了不同臭氧和氮肥水平下,小麦不同部位干物质量以及N、P、K质量分数的变化。结果表明,臭氧胁迫下,常氮水平小麦根、叶和穗干物质量以及根冠比与对照相比均显著降低,降幅分别为37.4%、17.4%、12.8%、29.8%,而增施氮肥后,小麦根叶穗及根冠比与常氮下相比均显著增加,增幅分别为60.5%、23.2%、10.7%、43.6%;常氮条件下,臭氧浓度升高明显降低N、P、K累积量及成熟期叶中N、P、K质量分数,降幅分别为10.93%、11.65%、7.64%、23.87%、14.81%、14.9%,而成熟期穗中N、P、K质量分数明显增加,增幅分别为6.15%、10.34%、13.12%,增施氮肥后,N、P、K累积量及小麦叶中N质量分数与常氮相比明显增加,增幅分别为15.58%、11.91%、9.00%、10.74%,叶中P、K质量分数也有所增加但增幅很小,而增施氮肥对其他部位的N、P、K质量分数影响不大。臭氧和氮肥对茎部干质量及N、P、K质量分数影响均不明显。总之,增施氮肥对小麦在臭氧胁迫下的生物量累积和养分累积有一定的缓解作用。     

Nutrient subsidies to belowground microbes impact aboveground food web interactions

Historically, terrestrial food web theory has been compartmentalized into interactions among aboveground or belowground communities. In this study we took a more synthetic approach to understanding food web interactions by simultaneously examining four trophic levels and investigating how nutrient (nitrogen and carbon) and detrital subsidies impact the ability of the belowground microbial community to alter the abundance of aboveground arthropods (herbivores and predators) associated with the intertidal cord grass Spartina alterniflora. We manipulated carbon, nitrogen, and detrital resources in a field experiment and measured decomposition rate, soil nitrogen pools, plant biomass and quality, herbivore density, and arthropod predator abundance. Because carbon subsidies impact plant growth only indirectly (microbial pathways), whereas nitrogen additions both directly (plant uptake) and indirectly (microbial pathways) impact plant primary productivity, we were able to assess the effect of both belowground soil microbes and nutrient availability on aboveground herbivores and their predators. Herbivore density in the field was suppressed by carbon supplements. Carbon addition altered soil microbial dynamics (net potential ammonification, litter decomposition rate, DON [dissolved organic N] concentration), which limited inorganic soil nitrogen availability and reduced plant size as well as predator abundance. Nitrogen addition enhanced herbivore density by increasing plant size and quality directly by increasing inorganic soil nitrogen pools, and indirectly by enhancing microbial nitrification. Detritus adversely affected aboveground herbivores mainly by promoting predator aggregation. To date, the effects of carbon and nitrogen subsidies on salt marshes have been examined as isolated effects on either the aboveground or the belowground community. Our results emphasize the importance of directly addressing the soil microbial community as a factor that influences aboveground food web structure by affecting plant size and aboveground plant nitrogen.     

Relationships between loading rates and nitrogen removal effectiveness in subsurface flow constructed wetlands

Nitrogen removal of wetlands under 40 different inflow loadings were studied in the field during 15 months. The removal efficiency of four different sets of beds, namely the reed bed, the Zizania caduciflor bed, the mixing planting bed, and the control bed were studied. The outflow loading and total nitrogen (TN) removal rate of these beds under different inflow loadings and pollution loadings were investigated. The inflow loadings of 4 subsurface flow systems (SFS) ranged from 400 to 8000 mg·(m²·d)^?1, while outflow loadings were less than 7000 mg·(m²·d)^?1. The results showed that the inflow and outflow loading of TN removal rate in SFS presented an obvious linear relationship. The optical inflow loading to run the system was between 2000 to 4000 mg·(m²·d)^?1. Average removal rate was between 1062 and 2007 mg·(m²·d)^?1. SFS with plant had a better removal rate than the control. TN removal rates of the reed and Zizania caduciflora bed were 63% and 27% higher than the control bed, respectively. The results regarding the TN absorption of plants indicated that the absorption amount was very limited, less than 5% of the total removal. It proved that plants clearly increase TN removal rates by improving the water flow, and increasing the biomass, as well as activities of microorganisms around the roots. The research provided a perspective for understanding the TN removal mechanism and design for SFS.     

长期定位施肥对冬小麦吸收利用氮素的影响

研究不同施肥措施对冬小麦（Triticum aestivum L.）吸收利用氮素的影响,为新形势下制定合理培肥施肥技术,减少氮素流失,提高氮素利用效率提供借鉴。以黄淮海平原国家潮土土壤肥力与肥料效益监测站1990年以来的长期定位施肥土壤为基础,研究长期不施肥（CK）、氮钾配施（NK）、氮磷钾配施（NPK）、氮磷钾配施有机肥（MNPK）、氮磷钾配合秸秆还田（SNPK）5种施肥措施对冬小麦吸收利用氮素的影响。研究结果表明,与CK、NK施肥措施相比,NPK、MNPK、SNPK施肥措施有利于小麦各生育时期各器官对土壤氮素的吸收利用,能显著提高小麦各生育阶段的田间群体数、干物质积累量以及有效穗数,有利于灌浆期、成熟期氮素在茎、叶、鞘、穗等器官的累积。小麦对氮素吸收累积量、氮肥利用率以NPK最大,MNPK/SNPK次之,均极显著（P≤0.01）高于CK和NK;氮素吸收累积量大小依次为NPK〉MNPK〉SNPK〉NK〉CK。施NPK、NPK配施有机肥或秸秆还田的施肥措施均有利于冬小麦在整个生育时期对土壤氮素养分的吸收,提高籽粒产量。     

Additive effects of aboveground polyphagous herbivores and soil feedback in native and range-expanding exotic plants

Plant biomass and plant abundance can be controlled by aboveground and belowground natural enemies. However, little is known about how the aboveground and belowground enemy effects may add up. We exposed 15 plant species to aboveground polyphagous insect herbivores and feedback effects from the soil community alone, as well as in combination. We envisaged three possibilities: additive, synergistic, or antagonistic effects of the aboveground and belowground enemies on plant biomass. In our analysis, we included native and phylogenetically related range-expanding exotic plant species, because exotic plants on average are less sensitive to aboveground herbivores and soil feedback than related natives. Thus, we examined if lower sensitivity of exotic plant species to enemies also alters aboveground-belowground interactions. In a greenhouse experiment, we exposed six exotic and nine native plant species to feedback from their own soil communities, aboveground herbivory by polyphagous insects, or a combination of soil feedback and aboveground insects and compared shoot and root biomass to control plants without aboveground and belowground enemies. We observed that for both native and range-expanding exotic plant species effects of insect herbivory aboveground and soil feedback added up linearly, instead of enforcing or counteracting each other. However, there was no correlation between the strength of aboveground herbivory and soil feedback. We conclude that effects of polyphagous aboveground herbivorous insects and soil feedback add up both in the case of native and related range-expanding exotic plant species, but that aboveground herbivory effects may not necessarily predict the strengths of soil feedback effects.     

Nitrogen inputs promote the spread of an invasive marsh grass.

Excess nutrient loading and large-scale invasion by nonnatives are two of the most pervasive and damaging threats to the biotic and economic integrity of our estuaries. Individually, these are potent forces, but it is important to consider their interactive impacts as well. In this study we investigated the potential limitation of a nonnative intertidal grass, Spartina alterniflora, by nitrogen (N) in estuaries of the western United States. Nitrogen fertilization experiments were conducted in three mud-flat habitats invaded by S. alterniflora in Willapa Bay, Washington, USA, that differed in sediment N. We carried out parallel experiments in San Francisco Bay, California, USA, in three habitats invaded by hybrid Spartina (S. alterniflora x S. foliosa), in previously unvegetated mud flat, and in native S. foliosa or Salicornia virginica marshes. We found similar aboveground biomass and growth rates between habitats and estuaries, but end-of-season belowground biomass was nearly five times greater in San Francisco Bay than in Willapa Bay. In Willapa Bay, aboveground biomass was significantly correlated with sediment N content. Addition of N significantly increased aboveground biomass, stem density, and the rate of spread into uninvaded habitat (as new stems per day) in virtually all habitats in both estuaries. Belowground biomass increased in Willapa Bay only, suggesting that belowground biomass is not N limited in San Francisco Bay due to species differences, N availability, or a latitudinal difference in the response of Spartina to N additions. The relative impact of added N was greater in Willapa Bay, the estuary with lower N inputs from the watershed, than in San Francisco Bay, a highly eutrophic estuary. Nitrogen fertilization also altered the competitive interaction between hybrid Spartina and Salicornia virginica in San Francisco Bay by increasing the density and biomass of the invader and decreasing the density of the native. There was no significant effect of N on the native, Spartina foliosa. Our results indicate that excess N loading to these ecosystems enhances the vulnerability of intertidal habitats to rapid invasion by nonnative Spartina sp.