Vergleichende Untersuchungen zum Elementgehalt von Bodenpflanzen auf Gipsstandorten

Abstract

Summary On the xerothermic gypsum sites of Thuringia the concentrations of elements in the leaves of 13 characteristic species of the ground vegetation were determined. As far as possible the same species on carbonate and silicate sites served for the purpose of comparison. The grass species possess predominantly lower N, P, Ca, Mg, SO 4 —S, Zn and Cu values in their leaves than herbs. Cynanchum vincetoxicum, Salvia pratensis, Gypsophila fastigiata and Euphorbia cyparissias form a group of species with mostly higher concentrations of nutrient elements. On the gypsum sites the N content in leaves is mostly higher, while in the majority of the cases the Fe and Al content is lower than on the comparison sites. The Ca concentration in leaves decreases beginning from the gypsum sites via the carbonate to the silicate ones. On the gypsum and carbonate sites the K, P and Mn values are lower than on the silicate ones. With the exception of the often increased Ca content in the leaves ground vegetation growing on xerothermic gypsum and carbonate sites has in the main lower element contents as compared with vegetation growing on gneiss sites.