The concentration of Ca, Sr, Ba, and Mn in successive needle age classes of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.]

Wyttenbach A. 1, Bajo S. 1, Bucher J. 2, Furrer V. 1, Schleppi P. 2, Tobler L. 1

1 Paul Scherrer Institut, CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
2 Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland

Trees 10 (1995): 31-39

DOI: 10.1007/BF00197777


Abstract

The concentrations of Ca, Sr, Ba and Mn were determined in up to five successive needle age classes from 54 individual Norway spruce trees [Picea abies (L.) Karst] from nine different sites. The accumulation behaviour was found to be very nonuniform, going from an increase with needle age to a decrease; irregular patterns were also found. The type of accumulation is largely site specific. The increasing behaviour can in most cases be approximated by a simple arithmetic function. All four elements usually show the same accumulation pattern, the similarities being closest between Ca and Mn and least between Ca and Ba. It is postulated that the similarity between the four elements is due to their precipitation and storage as oxalates. The similarity between Ca, Sr and Ba is observed at all concentrations, that with Mn only at concentrations larger than 300 µg/g. Mn at small concentrations (< 50 µg/g) shows a decreasing pattern and no similarity at all with Ca, Sr and Ba, but behaves similar to mobile elements.

Keywords: calcium, barium, manganese, strontium, Picea abies needles


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