Abstract: A greenhouse experiment was conducted to study the effects of different nutrient levels (high, medium, and low) on the phenotypic plasticity of invasive species Spartina alterniflora. With increasing nutrient level, the branching intensity of S. alterniflora increased, and there was a significant difference between low and other two nutrient levels. The spacer length also increased with increasing nutrient level, but the branching angle was not affected by nutrient level. Nutrient level had significant effects on the biomass allocation pattern. With decreasing nutrient supply, the biomass allocation to aboveground parts (stems and leaves) decreased, whereas that to belowground parts (roots and rhizomes) increased. These results suggested that nutrient level had significant effects on the clonal growth of S. alterniflora, and S. alterniflora showed a strong phenotypic plasticity in response to different nutrient levels.

Key words: Sloping wildland, Newly built orchard, Intercropping, Biological structure, Ecological benefit