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Hrdlička P, Kula E. Element contents and their seasonal dynamics in leaves of alder Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:224. [PMID: 38300340 PMCID: PMC10834585 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12367-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Alnus glutinosa is an actinorhizal plant that fixes N via actinomycetes. Compared to other trees, A. glutinosa is more resistant to environmental stress and able to uptake soil nutrients more easily. Alnus glutinosa grows well not only in natural stands but also in degraded environment or soil in need of restoration. Changes in the contents of selected macro-, micro-, and non-nutrient elements in the leaves of A. glutinosa during the vegetation season were monitored in the Ore Mountains (Czech Republic), an area affected by extreme air pollution in the past. Decreased foliar content of N, P, K, and Cu, and increased content of Ca, Mn, Zn, and Al were observed; the content of other elements (S, Mg, Pb, and Cd) varied during the growing season or remained constant. From the viewpoint of nutrition, the content of N, S, Ca, and Mg macroelements was adequate; concentrations of P and K were low. Excessive amounts of Mn and Zn were measured, and the level of Cu was good. Non-nutrient elements Pb and Cd were present at the background level, and the level of Al was high. N/P, N/Ca, N/Mg, and Ca/Mg ratios were balanced, S/N value showed the lack of S, and N/K ratio indicated low content of K, which caused also suboptimal K/Ca and K/Mg values. The P/Al ratio varied from balanced to lower values. The content of individual elements and monitored changes were influenced by the amount of elements in the soil, moisture conditions, foliage phenology, and altitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petr Hrdlička
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1665/1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Emanuel Kula
- Department of Forest Protection and Game Management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 810/3, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
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Bílková G, Königová M, Hýlová V, Elznicová J, von Suchodoletz H, Flem B, Matys Grygar T. Factors controlling Mn and Zn contents in leaves of silver and downy birch in acidified soils of Central Europe and Norway. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:9642-9660. [PMID: 38196039 PMCID: PMC10824807 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-31837-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
In Central European mountain forests, foliar element concentrations (FECs) of manganese (Mn) in silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) are occasionally approximately 5000 mg kg-1 and can represent stress for these plants. Factors controlling the Mn FECs in silver birch in Central Europe and downy birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh.) in Norway have not yet been fully deciphered. In this study, the Central European silver birch specimens were sampled in 2022. The samples were analysed by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Norwegian data were obtained from the literature. Mn FECs are commonly negatively correlated with magnesium and, in certain areas, with potassium. Mn FECs are simultaneously elevated with zinc (Zn), likely because of soil acidification and anthropogenic emissions. Mn FECs in birch were previously thought to be related to altitude, which was assigned to (i) downslope washes of Mn or (ii) the historical load of acid emissions. The highest Mn FECs in silver birch were found in the Harz Mountains, Germany, and have been attributed to historical atmospheric contamination and the abundance of soils on felsic silicic rocks poorly buffering acid rains. The historical emission load from iron and steel production was hypothesised to be the cause of elevated Mn and Zn FECs in the Beskid Mountains, Czech Republic. Mn FECs in birch can be used to map historical soil acidification caused by industrial emissions. Zn FECs in birches can reflect soil contamination by this element.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Bílková
- Faculty of Environment, J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí Nad Labem, Pasteurova 15, 400 96, Ústí Nad Labem, Czech Republic.
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry of Czech Academy of Sciences, 250 68, Řež, Czech Republic.
| | - Michaela Königová
- Faculty of Environment, J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí Nad Labem, Pasteurova 15, 400 96, Ústí Nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Věra Hýlová
- Náměstí Generála Svobody 985/23, 700 30, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Jitka Elznicová
- Faculty of Environment, J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí Nad Labem, Pasteurova 15, 400 96, Ústí Nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Hans von Suchodoletz
- Geoinformatics and Remote Sensing Group, Institute of Geography, Leipzig University, Johannisallee 19a, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Belinda Flem
- Geological Survey of Norway, POB 6315 Torgarden, N-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Tomáš Matys Grygar
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry of Czech Academy of Sciences, 250 68, Řež, Czech Republic
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Grygar TM, Hošek M, Elznicová J, Machová I, Kubát K, Adamec S, Tůmová Š, Rohovec J, Navrátil T. Mobilisation of Cd, Mn, and Zn in floodplains by action of plants and its consequences for spreading historical contamination and fluvial geochemistry. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:40461-40477. [PMID: 36609757 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-25113-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Cadmium, Mn, and Zn are mobilised by plants commonly growing in floodplains, most notably willows (Salix) and alder (Alnus). These plants accumulate unwanted elements (Cd) or excessive element concentrations (Mn, Zn) in their foliage, thus introducing them into the food web and enriching them in floodplain surface by litterfall. In floodplain of the Litavka River in Czechia, contaminated by historical mining activities, up to 100 mg kg-1 Cd and up to several thousand mg kg-1 Mn and Zn are present in willow leaves in autumn, probably close maxima for sustainable plant growth. Willows and alders show seasonal growth of their foliar Mn and Zn. The willow leaves showed Cd/Zn larger than contaminated fluvisol of the Litavka River. Senesced willow leaves thus contribute to spread of risk elements from historically contaminated floodplains back to river water even without the bank erosion. Alders and willows alter geochemical cycles of Cd, Mn, and Zn in fluvial systems and increase Cd/Zn and Mn/Fe concentration ratios and Cd and Mn concentrations in fluvially transported particles relative to global geochemical averages as well as relative to floodplain sediments. Willows, in particular Salix fragilis L., S. aurita L, and S. cinerea L are particularly important "plant pumps". Other common floodplain plants, such as bird cherry (Prunus padus L.) and herbaceous plants (common nettle, Urtica dioica L. and grasses, Poaceae) do not contribute to those phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Matys Grygar
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Husinec 1001, 250 68, Řež, Czech Republic.
| | - Michal Hošek
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Husinec 1001, 250 68, Řež, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Environment, J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí Nad Labem, Pasteurova 3632/15, 400 96, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Jitka Elznicová
- Faculty of Environment, J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí Nad Labem, Pasteurova 3632/15, 400 96, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Iva Machová
- Faculty of Environment, J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí Nad Labem, Pasteurova 3632/15, 400 96, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Karel Kubát
- Faculty of Environment, J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí Nad Labem, Pasteurova 3632/15, 400 96, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Slavomír Adamec
- Faculty of Environment, J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí Nad Labem, Pasteurova 3632/15, 400 96, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Štěpánka Tůmová
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Husinec 1001, 250 68, Řež, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Environment, J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí Nad Labem, Pasteurova 3632/15, 400 96, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Rohovec
- Geological Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 269, 165 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Navrátil
- Geological Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 269, 165 00, Prague, Czech Republic
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