Nutrient Concentrations in Foliage of Species Within a New South Wales Sub-Tropical Rainforest

Sub-tropical rainforests in New South Wales are complex, oftenwith more than 30 tree species ha^–1. Estimation of nutrientcontents involves obtaining information on the range of nutrientconcentrations both in different species and in different foreststrata. The foliage from the tree and shrub components of an undisturbedforest were analyzed chemically together with the small treeand shrub component of an area logged two years previously.The site had high nutrient availability. All nutrients analyzed(nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium, manganese,aluminium, sodium, zinc, iron, boron and chloride) varied betweenspecies. Some individuals accumulated high concentrations ofspecific nutrients, but an accumulator of one nutrient was notnecessarily an accumulator of any other. Assessment of nutrient concentrations on the basis of foreststrata showed major differences. Nutrients were accumulatedin higher concentrations on a disturbed site than on an undisturbedsite. This has been discussed in relation to nutrient conservationmechanisms after disturbance. Within the undisturbed stand,the large shrub stratum had the highest concentrations of nitrogen,phosphorus, potassium and boron. Mean concentrations of aluminium,sodium and chloride were highest in the small shrub stratum,mainly because several species accumulate these elements. Sub-tropical rainforest, nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium, manganese, aluminium, sodium, zinc, iron, boron, chloride