RARE-EARTH ELEMENTS IN SOIL AND IN SOIL-GROWN PLANTS

Concentrations of the rare earth elements (REEs) La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, G d, Tb, Yb and Lu were determined in leaves of 6 plant species (Norway spruce, silver fir, maple, ivy, blackberry, and wood fern), and in per tinent soils and soil extracts, also taken from the same site. The dis tribution of the individual REEs in plants showed little or no agreeme nt with that in the soil or the soil extracts. Ce had a negative anoma ly with respect to the soil in all plants. The REE distribution patter ns of fir and spruce were almost identical, but differed profoundly fr om that of the other species. In most cases, concentration ratios betw een species were a smooth function of the atomic number of the REE. Ve ry similar results were obtained at 2 additional sites.