TY - JOUR

T1 - Multivariate statistical analysis of nutrients and trace elements in plants and soil from northwestern Russia

AU - Shtangeeva, I.

AU - Alber, D.

AU - Bukalis, G.

AU - Stanik, B.

AU - Zepezauer, F.

PY - 2009/2/26

Y1 - 2009/2/26

N2 - Results are summarized of several field and greenhouse experiments designed to estimate differences in the ability of some plant species to take up from soil essential nutrients and various trace elements and transfer them from roots to upper plant parts. Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used to determine concentrations of 22 elements in plant and soil samples. Correlation and principal component analysis were applied for interpreting a large volume of experimental results. In many cases there was no statistically significant positive correlation between element concentrations in soil and concentrations of these elements in plants. Moreover, relationships between elements were often different in soil and in different plant parts, thereby suggesting quite different element behaviours in soil and in plants. Our experimental results and data published in the literature revealed that macro- and trace element concentrations might serve as a specific indicator of plant taxonomy, thus allowing for differentiation of the plants in accordance with concentrations of certain elements in roots or in leaves. Short-term variations in concentrations of elements typical for different plant species and factors affecting these variations indicated that diurnal dynamics of plant element concentrations were regular and species-specific.

AB - Results are summarized of several field and greenhouse experiments designed to estimate differences in the ability of some plant species to take up from soil essential nutrients and various trace elements and transfer them from roots to upper plant parts. Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used to determine concentrations of 22 elements in plant and soil samples. Correlation and principal component analysis were applied for interpreting a large volume of experimental results. In many cases there was no statistically significant positive correlation between element concentrations in soil and concentrations of these elements in plants. Moreover, relationships between elements were often different in soil and in different plant parts, thereby suggesting quite different element behaviours in soil and in plants. Our experimental results and data published in the literature revealed that macro- and trace element concentrations might serve as a specific indicator of plant taxonomy, thus allowing for differentiation of the plants in accordance with concentrations of certain elements in roots or in leaves. Short-term variations in concentrations of elements typical for different plant species and factors affecting these variations indicated that diurnal dynamics of plant element concentrations were regular and species-specific.

KW - Correlation and principal component analysis

KW - Element uptake by different plant species

KW - Relationships between elements in soil and in different plant parts

KW - Short-term variations in plant element concentrations

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79957584880&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s11104-009-9910-7

DO - 10.1007/s11104-009-9910-7

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:79957584880

VL - 322

SP - 219

EP - 228

JO - Plant and Soil

JF - Plant and Soil

SN - 0032-079X

IS - 1

ER -