不同竹龄雷竹中硅及其他营养元素吸收和积累特征

在浙江省临安市的雷竹主产区,分别采集不同竹龄(1～4 a)和不同器官(叶、枝、秆)的雷竹样品,分析了Si和其他营养元素含量、吸收和积累特征,以及Si和其他营养元素之间的相互关系.结果表明： 雷竹各器官中C含量的大小顺序为竹秆>竹枝>竹叶,Si、N、P、K、Ca、Mg、Al、Fe和Mn含量的大小顺序为竹叶>竹枝>竹秆.除Mn主要积累在竹叶中外,其他9种营养元素主要积累在1年生雷竹的秆中.3～4年生雷竹竹叶的Si平均含量为13.66 g · kg^-1. 雷竹属于Si积累植物.随竹龄的增加,雷竹叶中的N、P、K和Mg含量减少,C、Al和Mn含量增加.雷竹对Si的吸收主要集中在第2年(57.1%),对N和K的吸收主要集中在前两年(67.7%～93.7%),此后N和K从植株体内流出,其流失量分别占总积累量的19.1%～39.1%.雷竹中Si与Ca、Al、Mn呈显著正相关,与N、P、K、Mg呈显著负相关.     

Fire and soil-plant nutrient relations in a pine-wiregrass savanna on the coastal plain of North Carolina

Summary Changes in soil and plant nutrient conditions were evaluated following various burn and clip treatments in a longleaf pine-wiregrass savanna in Bladen Co., N.C., USA. Ground fires were found to add substantial quantities of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg to the soil, though not necessarily in forms immediately available to plants. Less than 1% of the total nitrogen in the charred residue (ash) is present as nitrate or ammonium. Considerable quantities of all nutrients examined were lost to the atmosphere during burning. Green leaf tissue in recently burned areas was consistently higher in N, P, K, Ca, and Mg compared to unburned areas. Howerver, when compared to similar tissues from clipped plots, burned area tissues were significantly higher in N, Ca, and Mg only. Data presented here suggest that tissue age significantly affects nutrient content and must be considered in any analysis of tissue nutrient content following burning. Within 4–6 months following fire, burned-area tissue nutrient content decreases to concentrations found in the unburned area. Burning resulted in initial enrichment of available soil nutrients including PO₄, K⁺, Ca⁺⁺, and Mg⁺⁺, however, NO₃ ^-, and NH₄ ⁺ concentrations in burned soil were not significantly different from unbruned soil. Soil and plant nutrient changes in an area burned two years in succession indicate that repeated burning may diminish nutrient availability. Plant response to various nutrient enrichment treatments of the soil indicated that nitrogen is limiting growth in both burned and unburned soils and that burning may alter some factors other than nutrients which may retard plant growth in unburned areas.     

加拿大一枝黄花对土壤营养元素吸收与转运特征

选择临海沿江镇加拿大一枝黄花重度入侵区域,分别收集植物与土壤样品,研究加拿大一枝黄花对土壤中7种营养元素的吸收、转运特征。研究结果表明：7种营养元素在植物组织中的平均含量排序为：Zn〉K〉Ca〉N〉Mg〉P〉Mn。而且不同器官对同一种元素的积累存在显著差异,总体规律表现为叶和花蕾积累元素最多,其次是枝条和根状茎,根和茎则积累最少。地上器官对各元素的转移能力表现出明显差异,但各器官均对氮素有较强的转运能力,转运因子均明显高于1。地下器官（根和根状茎）对氮素有较高的富集能力,富集因子同样明显高于1。7种元素在加拿大一枝黄花不同器官的吸收转运存在着一定的促进或者拮抗作用。在花蕾、枝条和根中,磷吸收分别与Mg、Mn和Zn吸收呈现显著负相关;在花蕾中,氮的吸收和Mn的吸收呈现显著正相关;在不同器官里,K、Ca、Mg、Zn和Mn吸收之间多呈现正相关。     

Macro nutrient cation uptake by plants

Summary In pot experiments with barley, mustard, leek, lettuce and spinach, and in a field experiment with 30 cultivars of barley uptakes of K, Mg, Ca, Na and N were studied at varying concentrations and activities of these cations in the soil solution.The sum of macro cations (K, Mg, Ca, Na) in meq per 100 g aerial plant parts were independent of the chemical composition of the soil solution, but dependent on plant species and on the N concentration in the plant.The ratios of mean net inflows of Mg, Ca and K into plants and corresponding cation activity ratios (a_Mg/a_Ca and ) in the soil solution were linearly related and highly correlated under conditions in which growth rate and/or rate of incorporation into new tissues constituted the rate determining step of cation uptake. Consequently, mean net inflows of K, Mg and Ca were independent of ion concentration and ion activity of K, Mg or Ca in the soil solution under the conditions of constant activity ratio.The results agree with the concept that plants have a finite cation uptake capacity, and that plants are in a equilibrium-like state with the activities of K, Mg, and Ca ions in the soil solution. The results indicate that both ratios and content of exchangeable cations should be considered in our evaluation of soil test data.     

西南喀斯特石漠化环境适生植物构树细根、根际土壤化学计量特征

为了解西南喀斯特石漠化适生植物构树(Broussonetia papyrifera)对贫瘠土壤养分环境的适应策略, 及其细根、根际土壤的化学计量特征对石漠化等级的响应, 该研究以西南喀斯特石漠化环境适生植物构树为研究对象, 运用生态化学计量学方法, 开展不同等级石漠化环境构树细根、根际土壤有机碳(C)、全氮(N)、全磷(P)、全钾(K)、全钙(Ca)及全镁(Mg)养分含量特征及C、N、P化学计量特征研究。结果表明, 除Ca含量外, 喀斯特石漠化环境适生植物构树细根、根际土壤的养分含量均处于较低水平; 细根N:P为12.59, 表明构树生长受N和P共同限制; 随着石漠化等级的增加, 细根C、N含量和C:N、C:P呈先降后升的变化趋势, K、P含量是则表现为先升后降, Ca、Mg含量和N:P无明显变化规律; 不同等级石漠化环境中的构树根际土壤N、P、K、Ca含量呈不同的变化趋势, 而C、Mg含量及C、N、P化学计量特征的变化较不显著; 细根与根际土壤的化学计量特征之间存在显著的相关性, 二者的C、P、Ca、Mg含量、C:N、C:P分别对应呈显著正相关关系, 而N含量呈极显著负相关关系; 细根的K含量则较为稳定, 几乎不受根际土壤养分的影响。     

Nutrient uptake by tupelo gum and bald cypress from saturated or unsaturated soil

Summary Seedlings of tupelo gum (Nyssa aquatica L.) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum L. Rich.) were grown in pots containing a sphagnum moss-peat soil mix. Plants approximately 20 to 25 cm tall were subjected to three moisture treatments, saturated-aerated, saturated, and unsaturated soil; and three nitrogen fertilization treatments, control (no N added), urea (a reduced N source), and nitrate (an oxidized N source).Data include dry weights (g/culture) of leaves, stems, and roots; concentrations (percentage of dry weight) and contents (mg/culture) of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg in leaves, stems, and roots. Total dry weight was greater for plants grown in saturated-aerated soil than in either saturated or unsaturated soil. Differences in nutrient absorption and distribution between the plants and among the water treatments were principally the result of growth differences produced by the water treatments. Element contents and often the concentrations of P, K, Ca, or Mg were highest in both species when grown on the saturated-aerated soil and lowest when grown on unsaturated soil. The low levels of N in plants grown on saturated soils were probably the result of denitrification, as shown by the greater content of N in plants grown on soil fertilized with urea as opposed to nitrate. Thus, urea would appear to be a better N source than nitrate for fertilization in swamp forests. Growth of, and nutrient uptake by cypress was restricted less than that of tupelo when the plants were grown on saturated as compared to saturated-aerated soil. Thus, cypress appeared more tolerant than tupelo to the anaerobic root environment found in saturated soil.     

三种苦苣苔对石灰土和红壤的适应性分析

为探讨苦苣苔科植物对其岩溶生境的适应性,该研究选取黄花牛耳朵(Primulina lutea)、紫花报春苣苔(Pri.purpurea)和桂林蛛毛苣苔(Paraboea guilinensis)三种苦苣苔科植物,将其栽种在石灰土及红壤两种不同类型的土壤中,观测记录其生长性状并对其叶片元素含量进行测定和比较。植株采集过程中,同时采集自然生境中三种苦苣苔科植物叶片及取样植物基部土壤,并对叶片及土壤元素的含量进行测定,作为今后苗圃试验的参照。结果表明:三种苦苣苔科植物在两种土壤上的生长状况及适应性具有差异,其在石灰土上生长良好,在红壤上生长较差;在两种不同土壤中,除N外,桂林蛛毛苣苔的叶片其他元素(P、K、Mn、Mg、Ca、Zn、Cu)差异极显著(P0.01);除P外,紫花报春苣苔的叶片其他元素(N、K、Mn、Mg、Ca、Zn、Cu)差异极显著(P0.01);除N、Cu、Ca外,黄花牛耳朵的叶片元素(P、K、Mn、Mg、Zn)差异极显著(P0.01);三种植物的叶片元素比值,除少数值没有差异外,大部分指标差异都极显著;对叶片元素与栽培土壤元素的相关性分析,发现植物叶片Mn元素与土壤中N、Ca、Mg、Zn、Mn、有机质含量等呈正相关,土壤P元素与叶片中N、P元素呈正相关,而与叶片中Zn元素呈负相关关系。在其他栽培条件一致的条件下,土壤因素及物种差别是造成黄花牛耳朵、紫花报春苣苔和桂林蛛毛苣苔适应性产生差异的主要原因。     

Effect of soil K, Ca and Mg saturation and endomycorrhization on growth and nutrient uptake of sugar maple seedlings

Nutrient imbalances of declining sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) stands in southeastern Quebec have been associated with high exchangeable Mg levels in soils relative to soil K and Ca. A greenhouse experiment was set up to test the hypothesis that the equilibrium between soil exchangeable K, Ca, and Mg ions influences the growth and nutrient status of sugar maple seedlings. Also tested was whether endomycorrhization can alter nutrient acquisition under various soil exchangeable basic cations ratios. Treatments consisted of seven ratios of soil exchangeable K, Ca, and Mg making up a total base saturation of 58%, and a soil inoculation treatment with the endomycorrhizal fungus Glomus versiforme (control and inoculated), in a complete factorial design. Sugar maple seedlings were grown for 3 months in the treated soils. Plant shoot elongation rate, dry biomass and nutrient concentrations in foliage were influenced by the various ratios of soil cations. The predicted plant biomass and foliar K concentration were highest at a soil Ca saturation of 38%, a soil K saturation of 12%, and a soil Mg saturation of 8%. Potassium concentration in foliage was dependent on the level of Ca and Mg saturation in the soil when soil K saturation was close to 12%. Foliar Ca and Mg levels were more dependent on their corresponding levels in soil than foliar K. Colonization by G. versiforme did not influence seedling growth and macronutrient uptake. The results confirm that growth and nutrition of sugar maple are negatively affected by imbalances in exchangeable basic cations in soils.     

荒漠地区8种草本植物营养元素含量的比较分析

为深入了解荒漠植物营养元素计量特征,认识元素间的交互作用,揭示不同生长期、不同沙丘部位植物元素含量差异。以古尔班通古特沙漠8种优势草本植物(4种1年生植物,4种短命植物)为研究对象,采集不同生长期(旺盛期、枯萎期)、不同沙丘部位(坡上、腹地)的植株,测定全株植物的10种营养元素(C、N、P、K、Na、Mg、Al、Mn、Cu、Zn)。结果表明：(1)8种植物元素含量存在显著差异,体现了植物因遗传特性不同而对元素选择吸收的特点,含量为：C(230.19～401.82 mg·g^-1)、N(11.31～18.85 mg·g^-1)、P(0.95～2.08 mg·g^-1)、K(16.12～29.79mg·g^-1)、Na(0.88～3.31 mg·g^-1)、Mg(3.38～5.31 mg·g^-1)、Al(0.33～1.99 mg·g^-1)、Mn(51.35～105.32 mg·kg^-1)、Cu(4.14～6.38 mg·kg<...     

Taxonomic effect on plant base concentrations and stoichiometry at the tips of the phylogeny prevails over environmental effect along a large scale gradient

Despite the well‐known importance of all elements to plant growth and nutrient fluxes in ecosystems, most studies to date have been restricted to the roles of foliar nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Much less is known about cycling and pools of base cations in ecosystems and the drivers of variation in cation concentrations among plant species, even though these cations are paramount for plant and ecosystem function. In particular, little is known about the contributions of taxonomic position and environmental variation on base cation concentrations. The extent to which concentrations of elements in plants are determined by phenotypic response to their availability in current environments versus by inherent species‐specific uptake and processing adaptations, should be most directly evident at the tips of the phylogeny, where inherent variation among species should reflect relatively recent adaptation to environmental variation since their common ancestry. To test this hypothesis, we explored the geographic pattern and the effects of taxonomy, climate and soil on concentrations and stoichiometry of the base cations potassium (K), sodium (Na), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) across a lineage of Artemisia species and their close relatives across northern China. We found that species identity explained the largest proportion of the total variance for all four base cations (38.3–53.8%) and their stoichiometry (35.2–59.6%). K, Na and Ca concentrations increased significantly with climate seasonality, while Ca concentration decreased with annual temperature and precipitation. Plant K concentration, K:Ca and K:Mg were negatively correlated with soil organic carbon concentrations, but positively with soil pH. Our results suggest that taxonomy still needs to be fully considered for interpreting variation in vegetation nutrition and stoichiometry along broad geographical gradients even for species at the tips of the phylogeny.     

Nitrogen and potassium fertilization and environmental factors affecting the grass tetany hazard of wheat forage

Summary The effects of temperature and soil moisture levels on the chemical composition of wheat forage grown in growth chambers were studied. In addition to the environmental variables, K and N fertilization effects were studied. In all the studies, increasing levels of K fertilization depressed the Mg and Ca concentration of the shoots. Nitrogen fertilization increased the Mg concentration but had no effect on the Ca concentration of the plants. N fertilization depressed the K concentration in the soil moisture experiment, but had no effect on K concentration in the temperature experiment. Increasing the temperature from 10 to 20°C did not affect the Mg and Ca concentration of the shoots, but the K concentration declined due to dilution effects caused by the greater yield at the higher temperature. In the soil moisture level experiment the K, Mg and Ca concentration in wheat tended to decline with soil moisture level due to dilution effects. Calculations showed that uptake of K was regulated primarily by diffusion of K from the soil to the plant root and that the uptake of Mg was regulated by the uptake process of the plant root and not by the nutrient transport process through the soil.This study was part of the program of the Center for Root-Soil Research. Dept. of Agronomy paper #1532.     

中国南方生长于不同基质的天然林植物叶片元素含量特征比较

对比中国南方两个热带喀斯特森林、一个热带红树林和来自文献的一个亚热带常绿阔叶林植物叶片元素含量和计量特点。结果表明,受碳酸盐岩的影响,西双版纳和弄岗喀斯特森林植物叶片普遍富含Ca、Mg元素,因岩性差异,含有一定白云岩的弄岗地区的植物富集更多的Mg。西双版纳喀斯特森林存在K、Fe、Na、Zn元素的缺乏状况;由于白云岩矿物成分的特殊性和缓慢的风化速度,弄岗喀斯特植物有更高的叶片K、Zn、S含量。红树林植物富集P、Ca、Mg、Na、S元素,海水环境中大量的离子进入土壤被植物吸收利用,提高了红树的养分含量,并且在高盐环境下Na在叶片中大量富集。但是,红树植物表现缺乏Fe、Si、Zn。亚热带常绿阔叶林植物受酸性土影响大,Mn元素大量富集,P与Na的含量缺乏,并且相比其他生境,常绿阔叶林的N、P、Ca、Mg含量较低。西双版纳和弄岗的喀斯特森林植物叶片N/P比分别为14.27和18.26,说明前者受到N、P的共同限制,后者主要为P限制;红树植物N/P比为13.12,受N限制;常绿阔叶林植物本身严重缺P,N/P比为26.27,表现出明显的P限制。所研究的不同基质上的植物,叶片N与P元素之间均呈显著正相关,这种稳定的协同关系是植物适应环境的普遍规律。Ca与Mg两个二价阳离子元素在喀斯特森林和常绿阔叶林中为协同关系,而在红树林中则不存在相关性,分析表明Na盐胁迫下增加了Mg的吸收,改变了Ca、Mg的平衡关系。N与K元素在红树林和常绿阔叶林中为协同关系,而由于喀斯特环境中Ca、Mg协同影响了K的吸收,改变了N、K的协同关系。P与Zn在喀斯特森林和红树林中都表现出协同关系,这与两种元素在植物代谢过程中都参与了酶的合成有关。红树植物表现K和Mn的拮抗关系,而在喀斯特森林和常绿阔叶林中均未有相关性。S与P元素在弄岗喀斯特森林中表现出正相关,这种协同性可以帮助喀斯特植物缓解缺P的症状,而在高P的红树植物中没有相关性。研究结果对于森林生态系统的生物地球化学循环模拟和生态系统管理有重要参考意义。     

Varietal differences in uptake and utilization of nitrogen and other macro-elements in seedlings of barley, Hordeum vulgare

Growth and uptake of N, P, S, K, Ca and Mg in barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) were studied in water culture using young plants of 17 cultivars. Large varietal differences were obtained in dry weight production and mineral accumulation. The differences were not the same for plants grown in high- and low-salt media. For plants grown under both conditions there was a good correlation between dry weight production and total N content. Total shoot contents of K and Ca were closely correlated with shoot dry weight. Utilization of P and S in high- and low-salt plants and Mg in low-salt plants was variable in relation to dry weight production in both types of nutrient conditions. The correlation between dry weight and total content of Mg in high-salt plants was good. These differences in mineral economy between young barley plants were partly caused by varietal differences in relative growth rate, and in high-salt seedlings also by differences in seed content of N. The significance of root size, and of uptake, root-shoot partitioning and use-efficiency of specific elements differed; all four factors were important for P and S, but had varying impact on K, Mg and Ca. For N, differences in root size and ion accumulation were the most important factors causing varietal variation in mineral nutrition. – In a special experiment seedlings of barley were transferred to N-free nutrient solution after six days of adequate N supply. There was no significant varietal differences in use-efficiency ratio of N. Root/shoot partitioning of N was unaffected.     

川东红池坝地区红三叶和鸭茅人工草地土壤和植物营养元素含量特征的研究

川东红池坝地区红三叶（Ｔｒｉｆｏｌｉｕｍｐｒａｔｅｎｓｅ）和鸭茅（Ｄａｃｔｙｌｉｓｇｌｏｍｅｒａｔａ）人工草地土壤和植物营养元素的含量特征如下：（１）土壤中的元素含量以铁、钾和镁较高,钠、钙、氮、锰和磷较低,硫、锌、硼、铜和钼微少;（２）从元素的富集特征来看,该区土壤中的钙、硫为重度淋溶元素,钾、磷、镁、锌、钠为中度淋溶元素,铁、铜属轻度淋溶元素,锰属富集元素;（３）根据元素的生物吸收系列,红三叶属氮－钙型植物,鸭茅属氮－钾－磷型植物。（４）两种牧草的生物吸收系数,均以钙、硫、磷较高,钠、铁较低,其余７种元素介于二者之间。     

The role of mineral nutrients in the increased growth response of tomato plants in solarized soil

Soil solarization is a non-chemical disinfestation technique that frequently promotes plant growth in the absence of known major pathogens, a phenomenon termed increased growth response (IGR). The effect of solarization on plant nutrients and their role in the IGR was studied with tomato plants grown in solarized or non-solarized (control) sandy soil, under controlled conditions. Solarization considerably increased the soil concentrations of water extractable N, K, Ca, Mg and Na at most sites, whereas Cl and DTPA extractable Mn, Zn, Fe and Cu were decreased by the treatment. Plant growth and specific leaf area were enhanced in solarized as well as in N-supplemented control soil. In tomato plants grown in solarized soil, concentrations of most nutrients in the xylem sap, including N, were increased compared to the control, whereas Cl and SO4 levels decreased. The most significant increase in leaf nutrient concentration caused by soil solarization was recorded for N. Furthermore, leaf N concentration was highly and positively correlated with shoot growth. The concentration of Cu increased in leaves from the solarization vs. the control treatment, whereas that of SO4 and Cl decreased, the latter presumably below the critical toxicity level. The correlation between shoot growth and leaf concentration was positive for Cu and inverse for Cl and SO4. In conclusion, we found that soil solarization significantly affects nutrient composition in tomato plants, and provided strong evidence that N, and eventually also Cl, play a major role in IGR.     

鼎湖山南亚热带常绿阔叶林植物营养元素含量分配格局研究

在鼎湖山南亚热带常绿阔叶林中,植物叶片营养元素含量为Ｎ ０．９４６％－２．５３５％,Ｐ ０．０３０－０．１２７％,Ｋ ０．６１４％－１．８３３％,Ｃａ ０．４４２％－１．９９５％,Ｍｇ ０．０２４％－０．１８８％。叶片各营养养元素间相关性较差,仅Ｐ与Ｍｇ及Ｍｇ与Ｋ之间存在显著的线性相关。叶片Ｎ元素平均含量在各层中的序列为：乔木Ⅲ〉乔木Ⅱ〉乔木Ⅰ〉灌木〉藤本〉草本;其它营养元素浓度随层次分配的规律性     

滇池流域富磷区不同土壤磷水平下植物叶片的养分化学计量特征

滇池流域是我国典型的富磷区, 分析该区域内不同土壤磷含量下主要植物的化学计量特征, 有助于理解该区域的生态环境特点和生态恢复的特殊性。该研究测定了滇池流域滇中地区75种常见植物叶片的碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)及钾(K)含量, 综合分析了该区域不同土壤磷水平(富磷和正常)下不同生活型植物叶片的C、N、P和K的计量特征。结果表明, 研究区域植物叶片C、N和K含量的算术平均数分别是441.42、16.17和13.57 mg·g^-1, P含量的几何平均数为1.92 mg·g^-1, 植物叶片的N、P和K含量之间呈显著的正相关; 富磷区域植物叶片的P和K含量显著高于正常区域, N/P、K/P显著低于正常区域。无论是富磷还是正常区域, 草本植物的N、P和K含量均高于木本植物, 乔木与灌木差异不明显。植物叶片的P含量及N/P与土壤磷水平呈显著相关; 叶片N/P分析结果表明, N是影响滇池流域植物生长和群落恢复的主要限制元素。研究指出, 在滇池流域增加陆地植物群落及生态系统的氮素来源是进行生态修复和面源污染防治的重要切入点。     

湘西南喀斯特地区灌丛生态系统植物和土壤养分特征

以湖南省邵阳县轻度、中度(弃耕地)和重度石漠化的灌丛生态系统为研究对象,采集3种不同石漠化程度的灌丛植物样品以及0～15、15～30、30～45 cm 3个土层土壤,研究土壤、植被养分的分配格局及相互关系.结果表明:土壤有机碳、全N含量在不同土层中差异显著,且其含量均随土层深度增加而减少,而全P、全K、全Ca、全Mg含量在各土层间无显著差异;3种石漠化程度灌丛土壤全N、全P、全Ca、全Mg含量差异显著,且中度石漠化样地土壤有机碳、全N和全P含量相对较高.轻度和重度石漠化土壤各元素含量排序均为有机碳>全K>全Ca>全Mg>全N>全P,而中度石漠化样地土壤各元素含量排序为有机碳>全K>全Ca>全N>全Mg>全P;3种石漠化程度植物各养分含量由高到低依次为Ca>N>K>Mg>P,且植物N、P含量和土壤全N、全P含量均呈显著正相关.土壤养分状况与植物生长密切相关,根据不同石漠化程度土壤养分状况,应该采用封山育林与人工造林相结合以及针对性施肥的方法来治理石漠化.     

Seasonal dynamics of nutrients in leaves and xylem sap of coffee plants as related to different soil compartments

The northwestern province of Costa Rica is a marginal coffee growing area. At the onset of the rainy season low redox potentials probably induce the mobilization of soil Mn resulting in enhanced plant uptake of Mn. To test this hypothesis we monitored from April to the end of June 1995 the mobile Mn in the soil and nutrient and Mn concentrations in leaves and xylem sap of coffee plants. Every 2 weeks we took aggregate and bulk soil samples. The aggregates were mechanically separated into interior and exterior, air-dried and all soil samples were extracted with 1 M NH₄NO₃. We also extracted the field moist soil with distilled water. In addition, the 3rd and the youngest pair of coffee leaves and xylem sap were sampled and analyzed. According to the results of leaf analyses the nutrient supply of the coffee plants in general seemed to be balanced. However, Mn concentrations of 223 mg kg^-1 in the 3rd leaf pair at 18 April were above the optimum and the youngest leaves indicated Fe deficiency, but senescent leaves accumulated Fe and overcame the deficiency. Manganese concentrations in the xylem sap showed a pronounced maximum 2 weeks prior to a similar maximum of mobile Mn in the aggregate exterior. But in general the temporal variation of nutrient concentrations (especially Ca and Mg) in the plants are well correlated with the easily extractable nutrient concentrations in bulk soil. Probably due to its specific absorption and high rates of redistribution within the plant, K in the soil extracts did not correlate with plant concentrations. Element concentrations of youngest leaves could not be correlated with soil concentrations and are not considered to be an adequate tool for monitoring current nutrient uptake. Since plant element concentrations did not correlate with the aggregate interior, plants probably cannot use that nutrient source efficiently.     

Is primary production in holm oak forests nutrient limited?

Correlations between primary production and patterns of nutrient use and nutrient availability were investigated in 18 plots in closed holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) stands in the Montseny mountains (NE Spain), searching for evidence of nutrient limitation on primary production. The plots spanned a range of altitudes and slope aspects within a catchment. Nutrients considered were nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) in plant samples, and the above plus calcium (Ca) and sodium (Na) in the soil. Primary production was found by summing the annual aboveground biomass increment to the annual litterfall. Across plots, primary production was correlated with the annual return of nutrients in litterfall, but this relationship probably arose from the common effects of the amount of litterfall on both primary production and nutrient return, and not from any nutrient limitation. Primary production was not significantly correlated with nutrient concentrations in mature leaves nor leaf litterfall, nor with absolute or relative foliar retranslocation of nutrients before leaf abscission, nor with the concentration and content (kg/ha) of total N, extractable P, and exchangeable K, Mg, Ca and Na in the upper mineral soil. We conclude that there is no correlational evidence that primary production is nutrient limited in this holm oak forest.