Growth performance of an inland population of Plantago maritima in response to nitrogen and salinity

The inland distribution of Plantago maritima in Ireland and Britain is strongly western and generally associated with base-rich soils or with flushes in more acidic upland soils. Plants from an eastern Irish salt marsh and from an inland population growing on shallow calcareous soils in east County Clare, Ireland, were grown in culture solutions with a range of seawater dilutions (10-100%) and nitrogen (2.8-140 ppm N) concentrations added as ammonium nitrate. A low nitrogen supply (2.8 ppm N) resulted in very low dry matter production but with increased nitrogen, plant growth increased, even of inland population plants in 50% seawater. Some inland plants survived 100% seawater, but growth was much reduced. The relatively high salinity tolerance of this inland population is discussed.