Effects of different planting methods on the growth of Vallisneria natans (Lour.) Hara in dynamic and static water environments

Three different planting methods, that is, cutting, gauze wrapped, and covered soil in a bag, were used to investigate effects on the growth of Vallisneria natans (Lour.) Hara under static and constant water disturbance. Results showed that different planting methods had significantly different effects on the growth of V. natans. In terms of morphological characteristics, average plant height and average leaf width under the covered soil conditions were obviously higher than those under cutting and gauze wrapped conditions, but the number of ramets and average root length were lower. In addition, the biomasses of the aboveground and underground parts, as well as total biomass, under the covered soil conditions were obviously greater than those under cutting and gauze wrapped conditions, but the underground part to aboveground part ratio was lower. Leaf chlorophyll a content was obviously higher under the covered soil conditions than that under cutting and gauze wrapped conditions. The dynamic and static water environments had no significantly different effects on other indicators, except that the number of ramets in the static water environment was higher than that in the dynamic water environment. This study showed that dynamic and static water environments and different planting methods could have significant and different effects on the growth of V. natans. The growth of V. natans was greater under the covered soil treatment than that under the cutting and gauze wrapped treatment, and plant height, leaf width, and biomass were greater under the static than dynamic water environment.