Seasonal foliar chemistry of northern Scots pines under sulphur and heavy metal pollution

Foliar element concentrations (Al, Ca, Cl, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, P, S and Zn) were determined in needles of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) collected from northern Finland and the Kola Peninsula. On the Finnish side of the border K, Mg, P and S decreased from autumn to spring, indicating translocation to new growth, whereas on the Russian side the Mg, P and S concentrations increased during the winter. K and P concentrations were the higher, the closer to the smelters on the Kola Peninsula the plots were situated, probably on account of the fewer needle age classes. The foliar Mn and Zn contents decreased close to the smelters, which suggests that enhanced leaching and competition between the above divalent nutrients and Cu and Ni have caused anomalies in the nutrient status of pines.