110 
Table 2 
Dry matter accumulations in grams per plant (1973 phytometer) of whole plant, and 
shoot and root components for Sprite pea, Engmo timothy, and annual ryegrass 
at Palmer and Prudhoe. 
Palmer (Boreal) 
Prudhoe (Arctic) 
Whole Shoot/Root Whole Shoot/Root 
Entry Plant Shoot Root Ratio Plant Shoot Root Ratio 
Sprite pea 9.5 8.4 1A 7.6 1.14 78 36 22. 
Engmo timothy 74 o5 3.9 9 .046 .026 .020 to 
Annual ryegrass 18.9 10.7 8.2 is! .352 .187 -165 1.1 
Results and discussion 
Results were consistent with those of 1972 
in that annual ryegrass produced the most root 
and shoot dry matter at the boreal location 
while Sprite pea was the highest producer at the 
arctic site (Table 2). Yields at the arctic site 
were greatly reduced from those at the boreal 
site. There was a greater reduction in root 
growth than in shoot growth of timothy, thus 
resulting in a higher shoot/root ratio at Prudhoe; 
whereas in the pea, shoot growth decreased 
considerably more than root growth, thus pro- 
ducing a lower shoot/root ratio. That ratio 
remained about the same in annual ryegrass at 
both sites, as it did in 1972. The grasses pro- 
duced more root growth than the pea at Palmer, 
but the reverse was true at Prudhoe. The pea 
produced less root growth with respect to shoot 
growth than the grasses at both sites. Total 
reduction in biomass at the arctic site was much 
greater for the perennial than the annuals. Sprite 
pea produced about 9x the biomass at the boreal 
site than it did at the arctic site; annual ryegrass 
accumulated about 50x and Engmo timothy 
about 150x their arctic production. 
Biomass production of the two annuals at 
Palmer in 1973 exceeded that of the previous 
year (Table 3) in spite of a shorter growing 
period with fewer growing degrees (Table 4). 
Periodic fertilization with nutrient solution in 
1973, as compared with one-time fertilization in 
1972, probably accounted for the difference. 
Apparently the shorter growing period of 1973 
was more significant in its effect in the Arctic. 
There yields were all lower in 1973 despite more 
abundant fertilization and the accumulation of 
more growing degrees. Increasing the frequency 
of fertilizer applications apparently did not 
influence growth as much where climatic condi- 
tions severely limited growth from seed. (Figures 
for the 1972 Eagle Summit phytometer study 
were included in Table 6 to demonstrate the 
intermediate position in biomass production of 
this alpine site). 
Table 3 
Productivity at arctic (Prudhoe) and alpine (Eagle Summit) sites in Alaska as a percentage 
of production at Palmer, a boreal site, in 1972 and 1973. 
Sprite Pea 
Biomass % of Palmer 
Location (g) Production 
1972 
Palmer 5.7 100 
Prudhoe 22 38.6 
Eagle Summit 4.3 75.4 
1973 
Palmer 9.5 100 
Prudhoe 1.1 11.6 
Annual Ryegrass 
Engmo Timothy 
Biomass % of Palmer Biomass % of Palmer 
(g) Production (g) Production 
10.2 100 8.04 100 
6 5.9 .06 a 
3.0 29.3 .34 4.2 
18.9 100 7.40 100 
4 2.1 05). af 
