Nutrient elements in soil and Carya cathayensis leaves from four parent rock materials

Abstract

To reveal changes in soil properties and leaf nutrition from different parent rock material in a Carya cathayensis forest in Lin’an City, soil and leaf samples developed from four types of parent rock material: i.e. slate, granite, phyllite, and sandy shale, were collected in July of 2008 and analyzed with a correlation analysis. Results showed soil sampled from the granite parent material had the highest organic matter (43.11 g·kg-1) and available sulfur (38.73 mg·kg-1); however, it had the lowest pH (4.72), available calcium (Ca,5.22 mg·kg-1), and available zinc (Zn,1.65 mg·kg-1). Soil sampled from the phyllite parent material had the highest available phosphorus (P,7.29 mg·kg-1), iron (Fe,31.24 mg·kg-1), and manganese (Mn,67.49 mg·kg-1). Available nutrient elements in C. cathayensis leaves for all soils were in the order: nitrogen (N)Capotassium(K)MgPMnFeZn. Additionally, leaves growing on soil developed from phyllite parent material had the highest available N, Ca, Mg, and Zn, but the lowest available P and Fe. The correlation analysis was also significant for soil pH, soil organic matter, andavailable nutrients. Correlations for N, K, Ca, Mg, and Fe content in leaves as well as content of soil nutrient element were also significant.