Nutrient Leaching from Conifer Needles in Relation to Foliar Apoplast CationExchange Capacity

摘要

Limited evidence to date suggests that acidic precipitation promotes leaching ofnutrient cations from conifer foliage. In order to evaluate the relative contribution of the apoplast cation exchange complex and symplast nutrient pools to the leached ions, the magnitude of potential foliar leaching in response to acidic precipitation was compared to foliar apoplast cation exchange capacity (CEC) for two conifer tree species (Pseudotsuga menziesii and Picea engelmanii). Leaching increased with decreasing pH and increasing time of immersion. At pH 2.1 and 3.1, equivalents of H+ depleted from the acidic solutions approximated equivalent of cations gained by the solutions. Maximum amounts leached were less than 40 micro equiv/g dry weight of needles for all ions combined. Measured foliar apoplast CEC for these species was approximately 120 micro equiv/g dry weight of needles. These relative magnitudes indicated that the apoplast provided the leached ions.