Abstract
Abstract Elemental composition (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn) was studied in semi‐natural grassland communities of the province of Salamanca (Central‐Western Spain) under the effect of a topographical gradient (two differentiated slope positions: upper zone and lower zone) and for the main botanical groups forming these communities (grasses, legumes, and other families). In the upper positions where the proportion in weight of legumes and other families is greater than in the lower ones, the P, Ca, Fe, and Cu concentrations were higher than in the lower. For elements like N, Mg, and Zn, the zonal difference in the grass was not significant, since this was counteracted by the greater nutrient content of the lower zones and a dilution effect due to the greater production of biomass in that zone. The mean value of the K:(Ca+Mg) ratio in the grass was significantly lower (P<0.05) in the upper zone than in the lower one, and all the samples were lower than the critical value for livestock [2.2]. The highest Ca:P ratio values were also found in the lower zone, with the legumes showing the highest values. Considering the upper and lower zones together, the number of significant correlations between the bioelements was higher for the gramineae group; N, K, and Mg being the elements forming the most correlations within that family. The correlation between Ca and Mg concentrations is noteworthy, appearing in all the cases under consideration. Differentiation by zones gave a lower number of significant correlations than when the upper and lower zones were considered together.
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