Leaf construction cost of the most abundant species in an upland grassland of Northern Greece

Leaf construction cost (g glucose/g dry biomass) is considered to be a major determinant of species success in various habitats. The concentration of nitrogen (%N), carbon (%C) and mineral content in plant tissues were used to provide a measure of leaf construction cost. Five leaf samplings of the most abundant plant species (Poa pratensis, Lolium perenne, Festuca valida, Trifolium repens, Taraxacum officinale, Plantago lanceolata, Achillea millefolium) were conducted during the growing season of 1997, in an upland grassland which is dominated by C3 species. Furthermore, soil samplings were performed in parallel to leaf samplings, in order soil inorganic nitrogen is determined. Carbon and nitrogen concentrations and ash content were measured in leaf samples and these measurements were used for leaf construction cost determination. Trifolium repens had the highest nitrogen concentration, grasses had the highest carbon concentration while the highest ash content was observed in the forb species. The highest leaf construction cost was calculated for the legume Trifolium repens which was followed by the grasses Festuca valida and Poa pratensis. Forbs (Taraxacum officinale, Plantago lanceolata, Achillea millefolium) had the “cheapest” leaves since it had the lowest leaf construction cost. A positive correlation between leaf construction cost and soil inorganic nitrogen was evident for grasses (Poa pratensis, Lolium perenne, Festuca valida).