Abstract
The concentrations of soluble biologically available nitrogen and phosphorus were determined using Selenastrum capricornutum bioassays and compared with analytically measured soluble nitrate (NO3-N) and soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations during enrichment studies in a South African impoundment. The NO3-N analyses consistently underestimated the soluble biologically available nitrogen and the extent of the discrepancy decreased with increasing NO3-N concentration. Biological availability of soluble organic nitrogen during the bioassays is suggested as a reason for the discrepancies. At low soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations the analytical measurements underestimated the soluble biologically available phosphorus while at high soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations the analytical measurements were considerable overestimates of soluble biologically available phosphorus. Possible reasons for the observed trend are discussed.
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Twinch, A.J., Breen, C.M. A comparison of nutrient availability measured by chemical analysis and calculated from bioassay yields. Hydrobiologia 94, 247–255 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00016406
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00016406