Which Soil Properties Determine Tree Nutrient Supply in Extreme Technosol Conditions?

• Published in: Journal of soil science and plant nutrition 2023-12, Vol.23 (4), p.5324-5332
• Main Authors: Świątek, Bartłomiej, Pietrzykowski, Marcin, Sroka, Katarzyna, Otremba, Krzysztof, Chodak, Marcin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acid phosphatase; Agriculture; Alnus glutinosa; Biological properties; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Climate change; Ecology; Environment; Forests; Global climate; Grasses; Larix decidua; Leaves; Life Sciences; Magnesium; Mine reclamation; Mining; Nitrogen; Nutrients; Nutrition; Nutritional status; Original Paper; Phosphatase; Phosphorus; Physicochemical properties; Pine trees; Pinus sylvestris; Plant growth; Plant Sciences; Plant species; Robinia pseudoacacia; Soil investigations; Soil properties; Soil Science & Conservation; Soils; Substrates; Terrestrial ecosystems; Trees; Waste disposal
• ISSN: 0718-9508; 0718-9516
• DOI: 10.1007/s42729-023-01404-2

In recent years, there has been an increased interest in the selection of tree species for their adaptation to difficult habitat conditions in post-mining areas. As global climate change can cause changes in the circulation of elements, it is vital to understand how soil and habitat conditions affect the mineral nutritional status of trees. The study compared the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content in the leaves of various tree species on different substrates created by mining activities. The research was carried out in stands growing on reclaimed post-mining soils composed of various parent materials, including sands, clays, and ashes. The factors influencing the N and P supply to trees in the designated parent material were investigated. The soil’s physicochemical properties were determined, and biochemical analyses were conducted. The tests performed showed that there were no differences in the N and P content in the leaves of scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris ), black locust ( Robinia pseudoacacia ), black alder ( Alnus glutinosa ), and common birch ( Larix decidua ) growing on different substrates. The results confirmed a significant relationship between the mineral nutritional status of trees and the chemical (N, Mg 2+ , and K + ) and biological (AcdPho SP ) properties of soils. The N supply was related to the contents of nitrogen total (N tot ) and exchangeable magnesium (Mg 2+ ) in soils and to the specific activity of acid phosphatase (AcdPho SP ). The level of phosphorus (P) supply to the studied tree species growing on technogenic soils was shown to be a factor related to the activity of acid phosphatase (AcdPho SP ).