Contact person: Tomáš Matys Grygar
Element analysis in foliage can reveal soil nutrient deficiency, its acidification, and contamination by elements that easily enter plants, such as Cd and Zn. Soil acidification and some sorts of nutrient insufficiency can be revealed by excessive Mn uptake. Certain soil damages, in particular acidification, nutrient leaching and mobilization of unwanted elements, can be detected by relatively demanding laboratory soil analyses. Moreover, representative soil sampling is difficult in topographically complex terrains or in rocky surfaces, such as spoil heaps, slopes, mountain areas, and artificially disturbed surfaces around roads and buildings. In such cases, it is much easier to sample tree foliage in a representative manner. However, interpretation of foliage element composition needs further research, as interelement relationships in plant uptake are poorly known. LEGA has started this research in contaminated floodplains, where leaves of willows (Salix sp.) are particularly valuable biomonitors of excessive Cd, Mn, and Zn. In urban, ruderal, and mountain soils, birch (Betula sp.) is particularly valuable biomonitor of soil acidification and industrial contamination by Zn. Foliage analysis opens new avenues in easily mapping certain soil damages.
References
- Bílková G, Königová M, Hýlová V, Elznicová J, von Suchodoletz H, Flem B, Matys Gryar T (2024) 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 31, 9642-9660
- Matys Grygar T, Faměra M, Hošek M, Elznicová J, Rohovec J, Matoušková Š, Navrátil T (2021). Uptake of Cd, Pb, U, and Zn by plants in floodplain pollution hotspots contributes to secondary contamination. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 28, 51183-51198