Abstract
The study investigated the fluctuation in foliar nutrient levels (over a period of approximately three years) on two sites of widely differing productivity for loblolly pine. Preliminary analysis at the end of the first year indicated large variations in foliar levels with time which were attributed to weather factors, and further sampling was initiated to evaluate the influence of weather. A lack of a stable period during any portion of the year was attributed to the indeterminate growth habit of loblolly pine, and this aspect, together with a strong statistical correlation of weather factors with foliar levels, suggests that if foliar nutrient levels are obtained by the method used in this study, results could not be recommended for use in site differentiation of this species. The weather factors most commonly correlated with foliar levels were average maximum and average minimum temperatures for certain periods preceeding the sampling date.
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Miller, W.F. Annual changes in foliar nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels of loblolly pine (pinus taeda L.) with site, and weather factors. Plant Soil 24, 369–378 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01374045
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01374045