Polar Concentration of Elements in Tree Leaves

Abstract

A long-term study of the elements Mg, Al, Si, P, Ca, S, Cl, Fe and Mn in leaves is in progress. The objective of this study is to develop a week-by-week profile of these elements in leaves during several growing seasons. The profile includes the following information: (1) Which elements each tree collects in its leaves. (2) The location in the leaf with the highest concentration, top side, under side or interior. (3) The week during the growing season when each element first appears in the leaves of each tree. (4) The change in the relative concentration from week to week. (5) The source of the element i.e., deposition from the atmosphere or the root system of the tree. This information is profile for each year and will be correlated with environmental conditions for that year. Leaves are collected weekly from first unfolding in early spring until leaf drop in the fall. They are from the 31 trees and 26 species in Broome County, NY. From time to time leaves from most of the 26 species are being randomly collected from trees growing throughout the northeastern US.