Summary
During the summer of 1986, three year-classes of foliage were sampled from approximately 30-year-old Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] trees at 12 sites from S. W. Germany to N. Scotland. At sites in Germany, where trees were showing symptoms of ‘decline’, samples were taken from trees with ‘good’ crown condition and ‘poor’ crown conditon. The distinction between ‘good’ and ‘poor’ was made on the basis of international protocols for defining crown density and foliar discoloration. There was a wide range in nutrient content (percent dry weight) in apparently healthy trees. Current year foliage had ranges of mean values per site: S(0.07–0.13%), N(0.9–1.4%), K(0.5–0.9%), Ca(0.2–0.7%), and Mg (0.05–0.1%). Ranges were greater for 2-year-old foliage: S(0.09–0.18%), N(1.0–1.8%), K(0.4–0.7%), Ca(0.2–1.4%), and Mg(0.03–0.09%). At sites with trees having ‘poor’ crown condition, there were significantly smaller concentrations of Mg and Ca, and larger concentrations of K in 2-year-old foliage from ‘poor’ trees, compared with adjacent ‘good’ trees. Ratios of nutrient content were more significantly related to crown condition within sites than individual nutrients, especially in older needles. ‘Poor’ crowns were associated with larger ratios of N∶Mg, K∶Mg, S∶Mg, K∶Ca and smaller ratios of S∶K and N∶K. A ‘risk index’ is defined for trees showing no visible ‘decline’ symptoms, based upon nutrient content and nutrient ratios, which may be useful in identifying sites liable to experience deterioration in crown condition.
With the exception of one German site, where few ‘poor’ trees were observed, the index increases from Scottish sites to English sites to Dutch sites to German sites. The index is empirical, and not necessarily related to potential effects of air pollution. The time dependence of foliar nutrient content may also be useful in diagnosis. At sites with trees having ‘poor’ crown condition, even apparently healthy trees showed a lack of increase in calcium content with needle age, decreases in nitrogen content and very large decreases in magnesium content with needle age. The results show the importance of sampling several year classes of foliage from Norway spruce trees in determining the nutrient status of the tree.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Allen SE, Grimshaw HM, Parkinson JA, Quarmby C (1974) Chemical analysis of ecological materials. Blackwell, Oxford
Binns WO, Mayhead GJ, Mackenzie JM (1980) Nutrient deficiencies of conifers in British forests. Forestry Commission Leaflet 76, HMSO, London
Burg J van den (1985) Foliar analysis for determination of tree nutrient status — a compilation of literature data, “de Dorschkamp” Report No. 414, Wageningen
Cape JN, Fowler D, Kinnaird JW, Paterson IS, Leith ID, Nicholson IA (1984) Chemical composition of rainfall and wet deposition over northern Britain. Atmos Environ 18: 1921–1932
Cape JN, Paterson IS, Wellburn AR, Wolfenden J, Mehlhorn H, Freer-Smith PH, Fink S (1988) Early diagnosis of forest decline. HMSO, London
Cape JN, Paterson IS, Wolfenden J (1989) Regional variation in surface properties of Norway spruce and Scots pine needles in realation to forest decline. Environ Pollut 58: 325–342
Evers F-H (1986) Die Blatt- und Nadelanalyse als Instrument der Bioindikation. All Forstz 41: 6–9
Glatzel G, Kazda M, Grill D, Halbwachs G, Katzensteiner K (1987) Ernährungsstörungen bei Fichte als Komplexwirkung von Nadelschäden und erhöhter Stickstoffdeposition — ein Wirkungsmechanismus des Waldsterbens? Allg Forst-Jagdz 158: 91–97
Hällgren JE, Linder S, Richter A, Troeng E, Granat L (1982) Uptake of SO2 in shoots of Scots pine: field measurements of net flux of sulphur in relation to stomatal conductance. Plant Cell Environ 5: 75–83
Ingestad T (1959) Studies on the nutrition of forest tree seedlings II: mineral nutrition of spruce. Physiol Plant 12: 568–593
Ingestad T, Kähr M (1985) Nutrition and growth of coniferous seedlings at varied relative nitrogen addition rate. Physiol Plant 65: 109–116
Innes J, Boswell RC (1987) Forest Health Surveys 1987 Part 1. Results. Forestry Commission Bulletin 74: HMSO, London.
Kenk G, Fischer H (1988) Evidence for nitrogen fertilization in the forests of Germany. Environ Pollut 54: 199–218
Krivan V, Schaldach G, Hausbeck R (1987) Interpretation of element analyses of spruce-needle tissue falsified by atmospheric surface deposition. Naturwissenschaften 47: 242–245
Krzak J, Dong PH, Büttner G, Hüttermann A, Kramer H, Ulrich B (1988) Photosynthesis, nutrient, growth and soil investigations of a declining Norway spruce (Picea abies) stand in the costal region of northern Germany. For Ecol Manage 24: 263–281
Landolt W, Guecheva M, Bucher JB (1989) The spatial distribution of different elements in and on the foliage of Norway spruce growing in Switzerland. Environ Pollut 56: 155–167
Lange OL, Zellner H, Gebel J, Schramel P, Köstner B, Czygan FC (1987) Photosynthetic capacity, chloroplast pigments and mineral content of the previous year's spruce needles with and without the new flush: analysis of the forest-decline phenomenon of needle bleaching. Oecologia (Berlin) 73: 351–357
Malcolm DC, Garforth MF (1977) The sulphur: nitrogen ratio of conifer foliage in relation to atmospheric pollution with sulphur dioxide. Plant Soil 47: 89–102
Mehlhorn H, Francis BJ, Wellburn AR (1989) Prediction of the probability of forest decline damage to Norway spruce using three simple site-independent diagnostic parameters. New Phytol 110: 525–534
Nihlgard B (1987) The seasonal variation of nutrients in needles of three differently exposed spruce stands. In: Mathy P (ed) Direct effects of dry and wet deposition on forest ecosystems. Air Pollu Res Rep 4, CEC, Brussels pp 60–70
Oren R, Schulze E-D (1989) Nutritional disharmony and forest decline: a conceptual model. In: Schulze E-D, Lange OL, Oren R (eds) Air pollution and forest decline (Ecological Studies, Vol 77) Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 425–443
Oren R, Werk KS, Schulze E-D, Meyer J, Schneider BU, Schramel P (1988) Performance of two Picea abies (L.) Karst, stands at different stages of decline. VI. Nutrient concentration. Oecologia (Berlin) 77: 151–162
Parkinson JA (1987) The determination of total sulphur in vegetation. In: Rowland AP (ed) Chemical analysis in environmental research. ITE symposium 18, Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Huntingdon, pp 12–15
Parkinson JA, Allen SE (1975) A wet oxidation procedure suitable for the determination of nitrogen and mineral nutrients in biological material. Commun Soil Science Plant Anal 6: 1–11
Puempel UB, Gaebl F, Tranquillini W (1975) Growth, mycorrhizae and frost resistance of Picea abies following fertilization with different levels of N. Euro For 5: 83–97
Rehfuess K-E (1983) Walderkrankungen und Immissionen — eine Zwischenbilanz. Allg Forstz 24: 601–610
Roberts TM, Skeffington RA and Blank LW (1989) Causes of type 1 spruce decline in Europe. Forestry 62: 179–272
SAS (1985) SAS user's guide: statistics, Version 5 Edition. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC
Schulze E-D, Lange OL and Oren R (eds) (1989a) Air pollution and forest decline. (Ecological studies vol 77) Springer Berlin Heidelberg New York
Schulze E-D, Oren R, Lange OL (1989b) Nutrient relations of trees in healthy and declining Norway spruce stands. In: Schulze E-D, Lange OL, Oren R (ed) Air pollution and forest decline (Ecological Studies, vol 77) Springer Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 392–417
Tomlinson GH (1987) Acid deposition, nutrient imbalance and tree decline: a commentary. In: Hutchinson TC, Meema KM (eds) Effects of atmospheric pollutants on forests, wetlands and agricultural ecosystems. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 189–199
Ulrich B, Mayer R, Khanna PK (1980) Chemical changes due to acid precipitation in a loess-derived soil in Central Europe. Soil Sci 30: 193–199
UNECE (1987) Manual on methodologies and criteria for harmonized sampling, assessment, monitoring and analysis of the effects of air pollution of forests. Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution, International co-operative programme on assessment and monitoring of air pollution effects on forests. UNECE, Geneva
Van Dijk HFG, Roelofs JGM (1987) Effects of airborne ammonium on the nutritional status and condition of pine needles. In: Mathy P (ed) Direct effects of dry and wet deposition on forest ecosystems. Air Pollut Res Rep 4, CEC, Brussels, pp 40–50
Wolfenden J, Robinson DC, Cape JN, Paterson IS, Francis BJ, Mehlhorn H, Wellburn AR (1988) Use of carotenoid ratios, ethylene emissions and buffer capacities for the early diagnosis of forest decline. New Phytol 109: 85–95
Wyttenbach A, Tobler L (1988) The seasonal variation of 20 elements in 1st and 2nd year needles of Norway spruce, Picea abies (L.) Karst. Trees 2: 52–64
Wyttenbach A, Bajo S, Tobler L, Keller TH (1985) Major and trace element concentrations in needles of Picea abies: levels, distribution, functions, correlations and environmental influences. Plant Soil 85: 313–325
Zech W, Suttner Th, Popp E (1985) Elemental analysis and physiological response of forest trees in SO2 polluted areas of N. E. Bavaria. Water Air Soil Pollut 25: 175–183
Zöttl HW, Hüttl RF (1986) Nutrient supply and forest decline in south-west Germany. Water Air Soil Pollut 31: 449–462
Zöttl HW, Hüttl RF (1989) Nutrient deficiencies and forest decline. In: Bucher JB, Bucher-Wallin I (eds) Air pollution and forest decline (Vol 1). EAFV, Birmensdorf, pp 189–193
Zöttl HW, Mies E (1983) Nährelementversorgung und Schadstoffbelastung von Fichtenökosystemen im Südschwarzwald unter Immissionseinfluß. Mitt Dtsch Bodenkundl Ges 38: 429–434
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cape, J.N., Freer-Smith, P.H., Paterson, I.S. et al. The nutritional status of Picea abies (L.) Karst. across Europe, and implications for ‘forest decline’. Trees 4, 211–224 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00225318
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00225318