The concentration of rare earth elements in plants and in the adjacent soils

La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb and Lu were determined in needles of age class 5 from 6 individual Norway spruce trees and in their soils. Measurements were done by neutron activation analysis with a group separation of the REE. Concentrations in spruce needles are among the lowest values reported for plant leaves. Concentrations show small variations between the soils, but large variations between the trees. The mean ratio plant/soil is about 5·10^–3 forall REE except Ce. Needles have no Eu-anomaly and a strong negative Ce-anomaly with respect to the soil. In addition to the fractionation of the individual REE between trees and the soil, there is also a considerable fractionation between the trees.