Determination of Aluminum, Calcium, and Magnesium in Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, and Red Spruce Foliage and Soil from the Southern and Middle Appalachians

INVESTIGATION OF ACID DEPOSITION EFFECTS ON SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN RED SPRUCE (Picea rubens) BY DETERMINATION OF CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM, AND ALUMINUM IN FOLIAGE AND SURROUNDING SOIL USING ICP-OES

“…[8] Evidence of red spruce forest decline in the Southern Appalachian Mountains relating to acid deposition varies in the literature. Some studies have reported inconclusive results [2,16] ; alternatively, some studies have supported the acid deposition hypothesis at several sites in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. [1,4] McLaughlin et al designed laboratory experiments to investigate any alterations in red spruce physiology by simulating acid deposition on red spruce trees, and their results support field observations from other studies.…”

“…Since the 1970s, spruce-fir forests in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, [1,2] Northern Appalachian Mountains, and Europe have declined. The decline of red spruce may related to climate changes or natural causes, such as hurricanes, inset attacks, disease, etc.…”

“…In this project, aluminum, calcium, and magnesium concentrations were analyzed in red spruce foliage and surrounding soils by using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) to determine the effects of acidic deposition on red spruce forests health by increasing toxic metal (aluminum) levels and reduced nutrient availability (calcium and magnesium). There were four major goals of this project: (1) to determine if there was any correlation between acid deposition and elevation of red spruce forests; (2) to determine if the coal-burning power plants located in eastern Tennessee more strongly affected red spruce stands in nearby western sites compared to those further away due to acid deposition; (3) to calculate calcium= aluminum molar ratios to estimate the health of red spruce forests located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains; (4) to compare our results of this project with similar previous studies.…”

“…[3] However, atmospheric acid deposition has been hypothesized to correlate with the decline of red spruce forests in Appalachian Mountains. [1][2][3][4][5][6] The burning of fossil fuels releases oxides of sulfur (SO x ) and nitrogen (NO x ) that react with water vapor in the atmosphere to form nitric acid and sulfuric acid, which may eventually fall to earth as acid deposition. [7] Acid deposition, found in wet or dry form, is a complex mixture of chemicals that contains H þ ; SO 2À 4 ; NH þ 4 , and NO À 3 ions.…”

DETERMINATION OF ALUMINUM, CALCIUM, AND MAGNESIUM IN FRASER FIR (ABIES FOLIAGE) FOLIAGE AND SURROUNDING SOIL IN THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS

“…More recently, Shepard et al [10] measured these same nutrients in Fraser fir and red spruce at Richland Balsam Mountain. Bryant et al [11] and Lee et al [12] reported the determination of aluminum, calcium, and magnesium in Fraser fir in various locations.…”