ALUMINUM AND CALCIUM IN FINE-ROOT TIPS OF RED SPRUCE COLLECTED FROM THE FOREST FLOOR

Root chemistry is being increasingly used as a marker of biologically relevant soil chemistry. To evaluate this marker, we determined the pr ecision of measurement, the effect of organic soil horizon, and the ef fect of stand elevation on the chemistry of fine root tips of red spru ce (Picea rubens Sarg.). Fine root tips were collected from the F and H horizons of the forest floor of nine locations. Six of the locations were selected as pairs that differed in elevation. The concentrations of Al, Ca, Mg, and Fe in fine root tip collections were determined by direct current plasma emission spectroscopy. Element concentrations w ere not well correlated between collections made from the F and H laye rs associated with individual trees. The concentration of Ca was signi ficantly higher and the concentrations of Al and Fe were significantly lower in fine root tips collected from the F than in tips collected f rom the H horizons. Fine root tips collected from the higher elevation member of paired locations yielded a higher Al:Ca ratio than did thos e collected from the lower elevation member. These results indicated t he need to stratify fine root collections by soil horizon within the f orest floor.