Correlations between element concentrations in spruce foliage and forest soils

Abstract

The relationships between foliage element concentrations in red spruce and soil chemical properties were studied to determine if standard soil measurements of individual elements in soils were well correlated with the concentrations of these elements in foliage. Significant positive correlations between O horizon and foliage concentrations existed only for K, Mn and P. Significant negative correlations between the concentrations of the major divalent cations (i.e. Ca, Mg, Mn) and K in the foliage were found suggesting a possible antagonism between the mono‐ and divalent cations for uptake from the soil. Trees with the highest foliage concentrations of Ca also were determined to be growing on soils which were producing the best growth rates. Foliage concentrations of P, and to a lesser extent K and Mg, were below values considered to be adequate for optimum growth in red spruce.

Key words:

• Tree nutrition
• red spruce
• forest soil testing