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Foliar and twig macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) in selected species ofEucalyptus used in rehabilitation: sources of variation

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Summary

The macronutrient variation within four 6 year oldEucalyptus saligna and four 5 year oldE. wandoo growing on rehabilitated bauxite pits was determined. Significant differences in mean nutrient concentrations were generally recorded between good soil condition sites and poor soil sites, between tree individuals, branch height, and plant organ type; but mean nutrient values were not different among canopy aspects. Fully expanded leaves of the current year provided the most uniform nutrient levels among the plant organs and showed major differences between sites with good soil nutrient conditions and those with poor conditions. Differences in foliar and branch levels of N, P, K, Ca and Mg, the variation between sites, canopy heights and plant organ types, and the use of foliar nutrient levels to indicate deficiencies are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Western Australia, 6009, Nedlands, Western Australia

    David T. Bell

  2. Environmental Department, Alcoa of Australia Ltd., 6208, Pinjarra, Western Australia

    Samuel C. Ward

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  1. David T. Bell
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  2. Samuel C. Ward
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Bell, D.T., Ward, S.C. Foliar and twig macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) in selected species ofEucalyptus used in rehabilitation: sources of variation. Plant Soil 81, 363–376 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02323051

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02323051

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