Studies on the Microelements in Forest Trees and Their Litters

The contents of elements B, Mo, Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn were studied in needles/leaves, twigs and fine roots of Chinese fir, masson pine, loblolly pine and blue Japanese oak. The contents and storages of these elements in the litters of four plantations were analyzed. The results showed that element B in needles/leaves and twigs of the forest trees were deficient, that contents of Mn were highly above normal level, and that those of the rest elements in needles/leaves and twigs and all those in fine roots were normal. The order of contents of the six elements in needles/leaves and twigs was Mn>Fe>Zn>B>Cu>Mo, while the order was Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu>B>Mo in fine roots. It was found that loblolly pine had the highest capacity to take up micronutrients. The order of microelements contents in litters was blue Japanese oak plantation>Chinese fir plantation>loblolly pine plantation>masson pine plantation, and the order of the total amount of the six microelements was masson pine plantation>loblolly pine plantation>blue Japanese oak plantation> Chinese fir plantation.