Distribution of chemical elements inVaccinium myrtillus (blueberry) — basic problems for representative sampling of plants for multi-element analysis in ecosystems

Summary To get more information about establishing a representative sampling program for multi-element analysis in ecosystems, leaves and fruits ofVaccinium myrtillus were investigated for special criteria of seasonal and interherd fluctuations in elemental distribution within a forest ecosystem. Eleven chemical elements were quantitatively determined by AES/ICP. The interherd variances in elemental compositions of different stands ofVaccinium myrtillus (leaves) are between 12% and 45%, the seasonal fluctuations within two months in leaves ofVaccinium myrtillus are between –33% (Rb)and +159% (Ba). Compared with fruits, leaves represent higher concentrations of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Fe, Zn, similar concentrations of K and Cu and lower concentrations of Rb and P. Comparable results from different institutes in multi-element analysis can only be obtained by sampling same plant species in a defined period of the year.

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Verteilung von chemischen Elementen inVaccinium myrtillus (Blaubeere) — grundsätzliche Probleme der repräsentativen Probenahme von Pflanzen für die Multielement-Analyse in Ökosystemen