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abstractOxygen partial pressures (O2pp) inside rhizomes of Phragmites australiswere measured to monitor diurnal dynamics. Root-associated biofilms were characterised regarding methane-oxidising bacteria (MOB) by immuno labelling. Runs of O2pp showed distinct diurnal patterns repeating day-to-day. Soon after sunrise O2pp increased steeply to around 185 hPa, remained on this level over mid-day and decreased exponentially over night to about 80 hPa. Root surfaces were densely packed with bacteria of which 34–37% accounted for potential MOB. This emphasises the importance of the oxic rhizosphere in the degradation of organic matter and methane oxidation and diurnal fluctuation of O2pp may implicate for variation of biogeochemical processes involved in wastewater treatment.

Oxygen partial pressures (O2pp) inside rhizomes of Phragmites australiswere measured to monitor diurnal dynamics. Root-associated biofilms were characterised regarding methane-oxidising bacteria (MOB) by immuno labelling. Runs of O2pp showed distinct diurnal patterns repeating day-to-day. Soon after sunrise O2pp increased steeply to around 185 hPa, remained on this level over mid-day and decreased exponentially over night to about 80 hPa. Root surfaces were densely packed with bacteria of which 34–37% accounted for potential MOB. This emphasises the importance of the oxic rhizosphere in the degradation of organic matter and methane oxidation and diurnal fluctuation of O2pp may implicate for variation of biogeochemical processes involved in wastewater treatment.

Willows (e.g. Salix caprea L.) are deciduous and richly branched shrubs or small trees. Salix caprea shows a high adaptability to different habitat conditions. One way of evaluating this adaptability is to measure willow biomass and production. Young plants of S. caprea were sampled from the bottom of an artificial lagoon in which sediments removed from the local Vajgar fishpond were deposited. The bottom of the lagoon was overgrown by vegetation dominated by seedlings of the willows S. caprea and S. aurita. Willows grew in the lagoon at average density of 58 plants per m2. The biomass production and growth of S. caprea were determined for 15 samples (collected from 315 individuals) during the growing season. Annual net dry matter production in the whole community was estimated for 2.7 kg m−2. Willows are generally considered to be fast-growing plants. The highest RGR of willows recorded by us was 0.03 to 0.04 g g−1 d−1 both in the stems and roots. This value was often recorded from July to August.