3.1 | Leaf morphology and chemistry
Leaf nitrogen content was marginally lower (two-tailed t-test, df = 6, t
= 2.3, P = 0.059) in treatment plants (20.2 ± 4.2 mg
g–1, mean ± SD) than in control plants (29.6 ± 6.8 mg
g–1). Leaf nitrogen content decreased by 39% to 18.7
± 3.8 mg g–1 when control plants were transferred to
treatment conditions (paired two-sample t-test, df = 3, t = 6.5,P = 0.007). The moderate decrease in leaf nitrogen in plants
transferred from treatment to control conditions (Table 1) was not
significant. LMA was significantly greater in treatment than in control
plants (two-tailed t-test, df = 6, t = 6.4, P < 0.001).
Transferring control plants to treatment conditions significantly
increased LMA (paired two-sample t-test, df= 3, t = −6.7, P =
0.007), while plants transferred from treatment to control conditions
did not show any change in LMA (Table 1). Stomatal density was similar
in control (260 ± 34 mm–2) and treatment leaves (245
± 30 mm–2).