Factors controlling Mn and Zn contents in leaves of silver and downy birch in acidified soils of Central Europe and Norway

0581992 - ÚACH 2024 RIV DE eng J - Journal Article
Bílková, Gabriela - Königová, M. - Hýlová, V. - Elznicová, J. - Suchodoletz, H. - Flem, B. - Matys Grygar, Tomáš
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. Roč. 31, JAN (2024), s. 9642-9660. ISSN 0944-1344. E-ISSN 1614-7499
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA20-06728S
Institutional support: RVO:61388980
Keywords : Geochemical mapping * Acidification * Soils * Cation leaching * Bedrock geology
OECD category: Environmental sciences (social aspects to be 5.7)
Impact factor: 5.8, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access

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.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0350375


Research data: SpringerLink