Using tree rings to reconstruct changes in soil P availability – Results from forest fertilization trials

Köhler, M.; Niederberger, Jörg; Wichser, Adrian; Bierbaß, Peggy; Rötzer, Thomas; Spiecker, Heinrich; Bauhus, Jürgen

doi:10.1016/j.dendro.2019.01.001

Cited by 16 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…However, due to the specificity of the research area and the research questions posed, published papers also tend to include studies in which a relatively small number of trees were used (several meticulously selected cores) [17,[26][27][28][29]]. An additional limitation concerns issues related to the suitability of individual tree species for dendrochemical research [19,[30][31][32][33][34], long a focus of scientific interest. These challenges notwithstanding, many dendrochemical studies have successfully provided new environmental data concerning various industrial sectors [21,25,29,35,36], many of which were focused on mining [21,34,[37][38][39], including the exploitation of copper ores [18,40,41].…”

Section: Application Of Dendrochemistry In Environmental Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges in the Application of Dendrochemistry in Research on Historical Environmental Pollution in an Old Copper Mining Area

Dobrzańska

Lochyński

Kalbarczyk

et al. 2021

Forests

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This research investigates the long-term environmental impact and historical temporal pollution patterns caused by a former copper mine in Iwiny (south-western Poland) using a dendrochemical approach. An additional aspect of this research was considering the possibility of using the inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) measurement technique as a cheaper alternative to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in dendrochemical analyses conducted in copper mining areas. In the study area, a tailings storage facility (TSF) dam failure (1967) took place and the alkaline flotation waste containing high concentration of Cu and Pb are stored. Tree cores from pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) were analysed for the content of 11 trace elements (TEs) (Cd, Mn, Ni, Zn, Cr, Co, Pb, Cu, Fe, Al, Ag) using the ICP-OES technique, while tree rings’ widths (TRWs) were also measured. Samples that were most significant in the context of the research goals were verified with the ICP-MS method. The results revealed the strong long-term impact of the copper industry as reflected in a substantial increase in the mean contents of: (1) Mn, Ni, Zn, Cr, Pb, Cu and Fe in industrial vs. control trees, (2) TRWs for control vs. industrial trees. However, the observed patterns of TEs and TRWs did not correspond to the known timing of pollution inputs (mining activity, tailings spill). Peak levels were observed for Zn and Fe after the mine was closed. The lack of new sources of pollution and the temporal relationship strongly suggests that the tree rings recorded the chemical signal of the TSF reclamation (the use of fertilizers and agrotechnical interventions). Patterns of 7 elements were detected in most of the samples by ICP-OES (Co and Cd were not detected, Al and Ag were partly detected), while ICP-MS detected all of the elements. Significant differences were obtained for Ag, Cd, and Co. Despite challenges with the application of dendrochemistry in research on old mining areas (e.g., lack of old trees), it has proved to be a useful tool for investigating the aggregate environmental impact.

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Section: Application Of Dendrochemistry In Environmental Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges in the Application of Dendrochemistry in Research on Historical Environmental Pollution in an Old Copper Mining Area

Dobrzańska

Lochyński

Kalbarczyk

et al. 2021

Forests

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“…Ca is a major constituent of cell walls, being largely immobile in wood tissue. Therefore, other elements may be referenced against Ca to indicate changes in their relative availability (Kohler et al, 2019). In the control treatment, Ca:P ratio in the stems was 11, at the highest P rate, the ratio was 4, reinforcing the substantial increase in the P availability.…”

Section: Effect Of P Fertilizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fertilization with Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Affects Composition of Araucaria angustifolia Needles, Branches and Stem

et al. 2021

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“…Depending on the element and the binding strength of the different atoms, their relative position in the wood or tree ring is more or less stable in time. Active and passive translocation processes during the trees lifetime may blur or destroy any chronological recording of environmental trends (Nabais et al, 2001;Smith et al, 2014;Scharnweber et al, 2016;Kohler et al, 2019). For example, heartwood formation in many trees includes a relocation of essential elements from the inner to the outer sapwood (Meerts, 2002;Smith et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

To extract or not to extract? Influence of chemical extraction treatment of wood samples on element concentrations in tree-rings measured by X-ray fluorescence

Scharnweber

Rocha²,

Arrojo³

et al. 2023

Front. Environ. Sci.

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In micro-densitometry of wood it is standard procedure to extract resin and other soluble compounds before X-ray analysis to eliminate the influence of these extractives on wood-density. Dendrochemical studies using X-ray fluorescence analysis on the other hand are commonly conducted without previous extraction. However, it is well known that translocation processes of elements during heartwood formation in trees or (temporal) differences in sap content of wood samples can influence dendrochemical element profiles. This might bias environmental signals stored in time series of element concentrations in wood proxies. We hypothesize that metals tightly bound to cell walls show a more robust proxy potential for environmental conditions than easily translocated ones. To eliminate the noise of these soluble substances in wood elemental time series, their extraction prior to analysis might be necessary. In our study we tested the effect of different solvents (water, alcohol, and acetone) and different extraction times on elemental time series of three tree species with differing wood structure (Pinus sylvestris; Quercus robur and Populus tremula). Micro-XRF analysis was conducted on nine replicates per species using an ITRAX-Multiscanner. A set of elements commonly detected in wood (S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, and Ni) was analysed at high resolution before and after several extraction runs. Besides lowering their levels, extraction did not significantly change the temporal trends for most elements. However, for some elements, e.g., Potassium, Chlorine or Manganese, especially the water extraction led to significant decreases in concentrations and altered temporal trends. Apparently the dipole effect of water produced the strongest extraction power of all three solvents. In addition we observed a dependency of extraction intensity from wood density which differed between wood types. Our results help in interpreting and evaluating element profiles and mark a step forward in establishing dendrochemistry as a robust proxy in dendro-environmental research.

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Using tree rings to reconstruct changes in soil P availability – Results from forest fertilization trials

Cited by 16 publications

References 41 publications

Challenges in the Application of Dendrochemistry in Research on Historical Environmental Pollution in an Old Copper Mining Area

Challenges in the Application of Dendrochemistry in Research on Historical Environmental Pollution in an Old Copper Mining Area

Fertilization with Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Affects Composition of Araucaria angustifolia Needles, Branches and Stem

To extract or not to extract? Influence of chemical extraction treatment of wood samples on element concentrations in tree-rings measured by X-ray fluorescence

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