THE CONCENTRATION OF CA, SR, BA AND MN IN SUCCESSIVE NEEDLE AGE CLASSES OF NORWAY SPRUCE [PICEA-ABIES (L) KARST]

The concentrations of Ca, Sr, Ba and Mn were determined in up to five successive needle age classes from 54 individual Norway spruce trees [ Picea abies (L.) Karst.] from nine different sites. The accumulation b ehaviour was found to be very nonuniform, going from an increase with needle age to a decrease; irregular patterns were also found. The type of accumulation is largely site specific. The increasing behaviour ca n in most cases be approximated by a simple arithmetic function. All f our elements usually show the same accumulation pattern, the similarit ies being closest between Ca and Mn and least between Ca and Ba. It is postulated that the similarity between the four elements is due to th eir precipitation and storage as oxalates. The similarity between Ca, Sr and Ba is observed at all concentrations, that with Mn only at conc entrations larger than 300 mu g/g. Mn at small concentrations (< 50 mu g/g) shows a decreasing pattern and no similarity at all with Ca, Sr and Ba, but behaves similar to mobile elements.