MASS-FLOW TO THE ROOT-SYSTEM AND MINERAL UPTAKE OF A BEECH STAND CALCULATED FROM 3-YEAR FIELD DATA

Mass flow to the root surface is defined here as the concentration of an element in the bulk soil solution times the transpirational water uptake of the plant stand. The ratio of uptake of a mineral element to mass flow is called Mass Flow Coefficient (MFC). From an ecosystem study in a beech forest MFCs for 11 elements have been calculated from 3 years of monthly measurements. They amounted to 0.076, 0.086, 0.34, 0.77, 1.5, 1.7, 2.2, 2.9, 8.3, 11, and 120 for Al, Cl, Na, S, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ca, K, N and P respectively. It is concluded that this stand discriminates against Al, Cl and Na in ion uptake and takes up selectively Mn, Ca, K, N and P while for S, Fe and Mg mass flow transports almost the same amount to the root system as is taken up by the above ground stand. © 1979 Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague.