RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SOIL CHEMISTRY, FOLIAR CHEMISTRY, AND CONDITION OF RED SPRUCE AT MOUNT MOOSILAUKE, NEW-HAMPSHIRE

Picea rubens 1-yr-old needles showed a moderate P deficiency (1000-1400 mg/kg-1), Mg levels in a transitional zone from deficiency to sufficiency (600-720 mg.kg-1), and Ca and K levels in a range sufficient for good growth. Foliar element concentrations were not correlated with crown condition. Extractable soil P was positively correlated with crown condition. The only significant relationships found between soil exchangeable base cations and crown condition were positive correlations for Ca and Mg (kg.ha-1) in the Oi + Oe horizon. Several factors suggest that red spruce at high elevations was not stressed from base cation limitations: 1) foliar element concentrations were generally in sufficient ranges; 2) crown condition was not related to foliar element concentration; 3) relationships between exchangeable soil cations and foliar concentration or crown condition were generally not significant or were inconsistent between soil horizons. -from Authors