Elemental Chemical Composition of the Larix Sibirica Needles in the Predbaikalia

Abstract

Objective: The study aim to investigate the features of macro- and microelements accumulation in the Larix sibirica needles depending on the growth conditions in the Predbaikalia. Methods: To determine the concentrations of inorganic elements in the needles, the inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) technique was used. The dry pine needles were mineralized in a muffle furnace; the ash was dissolved in 0.1 M nitric acid. The mobile forms of microelements were extracted from the soil using 1 M HCl. Results and Discussion: In the results, it is found that most of the elements in the needles exhibited low (N, K, Mg, P, Na, Zn, F, Sc, Sb, Pb, Mo, Be) and medium (Ca, S, Al, Fe, Ti, Cu, Ni, As, Cr, V, Cd, Ce, Y) levels of concentration variability. High coefficients of variation (> 36%) were found for Mn, Sr, Co, and Li; their concentrations in the needles depended on the growth conditions (forest type), including the level of mobile forms in the soil. It was shown that L. sibirica is characterized by potassium-nitrogen type of mineral nutrition. The sequence of macroelements in the accumulation series was constant; the group of ultramicroelements (n × 10^–6 mg/kg) showed a high mobility. The ratios of the concentrations of the physiologically important elements (N/P/K, P/N, K/Ca, K/Mg, K/P, Ca/Mg, Fe/Mn, Cu/Zn, Fe/Zn, Cu/Mo) in the dry matter of the needles were determined; the dependence of several ratios on the growth conditions was revealed. Conclusions: This research provides valuable information on the chemical composition of the one of the main forest-forming tree species. The data obtained can be used as a basis for comparative analysis of the balance of major nutrients in L. sibirica in other areas and to address ecological challenges.