In order to estimate biomass production of Egeria densa, the growth of 50 different plant shoots was monitored at three reservoirs, both located in Paulo Afonso-Bahia. The shoots were marked and had their length measured. Fifteen days later they were measured again, collected, dried at 70ºC and weighed. The following highest shoot elongation during the 15 days occurred in May 1999 in Taquari and Moxotó and May 1998 in Quebra: 9.14 ± 3.6, 4.2 ± 2.1 and 11.3 ± 5.3 cm/shoot, respectively, corresponding to the following highest biomass accumulations, 0.26 ± 0.17, 0.10 ± 0.05 and 0.41 ± 0.06 g of dry mass per shoot, respectively. Therefore, E. densa has a very high capacity of biomass accumulation, mainly during the rainy period when nutrient availability is at the highest.
hydrocharitaceae; weed; growth; reservoir
