Rare earth elements in soil and in soil-grown plants

Wyttenbach A. 1, 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

Plant Soil 199 (1998): 267-273

DOI: 10.1023/A:1004331826160


Abstract

Concentrations of the rare earth elements (REEs) La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Yb and Lu were determined in leaves of 6 plant species (Norway spruce, silver fir, maple, ivy, blackberry, and wood fern), and in pertinent soils and soil extracts, also taken from the same site. The distribution of the individual REEs in plants showed little or no agreement with that in the soil or the soil extracts. Ce had a negative anomaly with respect to the soil in all plants. The REE distribution patterns of fir and spruce were almost identical, but differed profoundly from that of the other species. In most cases, concentration ratios between species were a smooth function of the atomic number of the REE. Very similar results were obtained at 2 additional sites.

Keywords: Ce anomaly, fractionation, plants, rare earth elements, soil, soil extracts


  PDF