Ergebnisse von Düngungsversuchen mit Magnesium an vermutlich immissionsgeschädigten Fichten (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) im Fichtelgebirge

Mineral content in the soil and tree foliage

Seedlings of fir (Abies alba Mill.) and spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) were fumigated with SO(2), O(3) and SO(2) + O(3) in open-top chambers (OTCs) for almost 5 vegetation periods. As background stress, simulated rain of pH 4.0 was applied. Nutrient content of soil, soil solutions, and trees was investigated and balanced. In the upper partition of the soil high concentrations of exchangeable Ca(2+) were found in all chambers. The SO(2) and SO(2) + O(3) treatments led to increased Ca(2+), Mg(2+) and Mn(2+) concentrations in soil solution and the pool of exchangeable protons increased. This response was most evident in the SO(2) and SO(2) + O(3) chambers and less clear in the filtered pH 5.0 control chamber. In the SO(2) treatment increased Mn and S levels were found in the needles. Ca content in the needles showed a decreasing trend. O(3) alone had no consistent effect on needle nutrient content.

Performance of two Picea abies (L.) Karst. stands at different stages of decline : II. Photosynthesis and leaf conductance

CO₂ assimilation rate (A) and leaf conductance (g) were measured in the field on intact branches of 35-year-old Picea abies (L.) Karst. trees, in five plots each in a healthy and a declining stand. The declining site included trees with yellow needles. In order to separate atmospheric effects on gas exchange from effects of nutrient deficiency, direct effects of atmospheric pollutants were studied on green needles of different age classes in plots of trees at different stages of visible decline. The effects of nutrient deficiency on gas exchange were studied on a different group of trees showing needles of various degrees of yellowing. CO₂ assimilation of green needles at the same leaf conductance fell somewhat only when needles had reached 5 years of age, the oldest age examined in this study. Leaf conductance decreased with increasing needle age, but green needles in the declining stand had leaf conductances similar to those of needles in the healthy stand. Stomata of needles with different magnesium concentrations responded to light and air humidity in all age classes. Thus, as long as needles were green, no dese effect was detectable up to 5 years of exposure to atmospheric emissions. Since all needles, green and yellow, were exposed to the same pollution levels, differences in gas exchange between green and yellow needles could not be explained simply in terms of long-term direct effects of air pollution. Needle magnesium contents were correlated with needle yellowing. Neither needle color change nor the magnesium concentration were related to g, but CO₂ uptake at ambient CO₂ levels declined with lower magnesium concentration and greater degrees of needle yellowing.