Element content in tissues of spruce seedlings from hydroponic cultures simulating acidification and deacidification

Abstract

In order to determine the primary causes of coniferous fine root damage and disfunction in acidic soils, hydroponic cultures of young spruce in pH neutral, acidic, and metal ion-amended media were established. After five months, physiological stress in the roots was removed by raising the pH in the acid and metal ion-amended cultures to physiological neutrality. The cellular element analytical techniques of x-ray microprobe (EDXA) and laser-micromass-spectroscopy (LAMMA) were applied to samples of various tissues of the cultured spruce. Nutrient uptake by the fine roots was blocked by the following ions in order of decreasing severity: A13+ > H + > Fe 3+ > Mn 2+ . Magnesium uptake by the fine root apoplast was greatly inhibited by these blockers as was calcium. A13+ and Fe 3+ act predominantly in the root cortex, while Mn 2+ is mobile throughout the whole plant. Besides the roots, nutrient deficiencies are also severe in the shoot bark and needles. Phloem processes might therefore be affected. The ion exchange functions of the fine roots are almost reversed by raising the pH of the solutions; the nutrient cations may then again be taken up by the apoplast and the crown status improved. The consequences of these findings are discussed with regard to soil processes and fertilization (liming) treatments under field conditions.

Soil nutrient bioavailability and nutrient content of pine trees (Pinus thunbergii) in areas impacted by acid deposition in Korea

“…The Mg/Al and Mg/Mn ratios of forest soil solutions in industrial areas were generally lower than non-industrial sites (data not shown). Stienen and Bauch (1988) showed that Mg uptake was reduced more than the Ca uptake in the presence of Mn in soil solution. Davis (1990) investigated soil solutions under Norway spruce (Picea abies) and found forest decline was mainly due to increased levels of Al and deficiencies of Mg.…”

“…In general, forest declines are often characterized by low concentrations of base cations, especially Ca (Kolb and McCormick 1993;Long et al 1997;Lee et al 2004a, b). Stienen and Bauch (1988) showed that Ca concentrations in soils limited the growth of sugar maple in north-central Pennsylvania and southern New York. Those studies showed that high Al concentrations in soils inhibited Ca uptake by trees.…”

Application of aluminium toxicity indices to soils under various forest species

“…Truman et al (1986) specified critical foliar levels of 800 mg kg À1 for P. radiata. For more sensitive species such as Picea abies, values of 32 mg kg À1 of Al have been proposed by Steinen and Bauch (1988) using hydroponic cultures. In this study, foliar Al levels higher than 800 mg kg À1 were generally found in all species growing on granodiorite soils, indicating the possible existence of Al stress.…”

Monitoring uptake and contents of Mg, Ca and K in Norway spruce as influenced by pH and Al, using microprobe analysis and stable isotope labelling

“…Adverse effects of low pH and AI were shown for trees, particularly those grown in hydroponic cultures (e.g. Evers, 1983;Hecht-Buchholz et al, 1987;Junga, 1984;Rost-Siebert, 1983Schaedie et al, 1989;Stienen and Bauch, 1988;Tischner et al, 1983). In many acid soils throughout the world aluminium is the most important growth impeding factor (Rengel, 1992).…”