Plant and Soil

, Volume 29, Issue 2, pp 225–240 | Cite as

Trace elements in a New Zealand serpenting flora

  • G. L. Lyon
  • R. R. Brooks
  • P. J. Peterson
  • G. W. Butler
Article
Received:

Summary

The trace element content of ashed specimens of a New Zealand serpentine flora and the associated soils was investigated. Six species (Myosotis monroi Cheesem.,Notothlaspi australe Hook. f.,Pimelea suteri Kirk,Cassinia vauvilliersii (Homb. et Jacq.) Hook. f. varserpentina Ckn. et Allan,Hebe odora (Hook. f.) Ckn. andLeptospermum scoparium J. R. et G. Forst.) were analysed for cobalt, chromium, copper and nickel by emission spectroscopy. The significance of the experimental data was evaluated by calculation of the correlation coefficients by a computer.C. vauvilliersii showed highly significant correlation between plant ash and soil concentration for chromium, cobalt and nickel.H. odora andL. scoparium showed similar but less pronounced correlations. Relative concentrations varied considerably among the species studied.P. suteri is a strong accumulator of nickel and cobalt andL. scoparium of chromium. Good correlations were observed for certain pairs of elements in the plant ash of individual species and in the soils alone. Data for uptake by plants were compared with soil extractabilities. Calcium-magnesium ratios were also determined, and were found to be much lower than in the same species growing on non-serpentinized soils. It was concluded that the above species, particularlyC. vauvilliersii will be useful in biogeochemical prospecting.

Keywords

Nickel Chromium Cobalt Serpentine Relative Concentration 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Literature cited

  1. 1.
    Bell, J. M., Clarke, E. de C., and Marshall, P., The geology of Dun Mountain Subdivision, Nelson. New Zealand Geol. Surv. Bull. No.12 (1911).Google Scholar
  2. 2.
    Betts, M. W., Notes on the autecology of certain plants of the peridotite belt, Nelson. Trans. New Zealand Inst.50, 230–243 (1918).Google Scholar
  3. 3.
    Boswell, C. R. and Brooks, R. R., Improved methods for the measurement of spectral line intensities. Applied Spectroscopy19, 147–150 (1965).Google Scholar
  4. 4.
    Brooks, R. R. and Lyon, G. L., Biogeochemical prospecting for molybedenum in New Zealand. New Zealand J. Sci.9, 706–718 (1966).Google Scholar
  5. 5.
    Butler, G. W., Barclay, P. C. and Glenday, A. C., Genetic and environmental differences in the mineral composition of ryegrass herbage. Plant and Soil16, 214–228 (1962).Google Scholar
  6. 6.
    Cannon, H. L., The development of botanical methods of prospecting for uranium on the Colorado Plateau. U.S. Geol. Surv. Bull. 1085-A (1960).Google Scholar
  7. 7.
    Fisher, R. A. and Yates, F., Statistical Tables. Oliver and Boyd (1957).Google Scholar
  8. 8.
    Gerloff, G. C., Moore, D. G. and Curtis, J. T., Selective absorption of mineral elements of native plants of Wisconsin. Plant and Soil.25, 393–405 (1966).Google Scholar
  9. 9.
    Imbrie, J., Biometrical Methods in the Study of Invertebrate Fossils. Bull. Am. Museum Natural History.108, 211–252 (1956).Google Scholar
  10. 10.
    Kruckeberg, A. R., The ecology of serpentine soils. III. Plant species in relation to serpentine soils. Ecology35, 267–274 (1954).Google Scholar
  11. 11.
    Lauder, W. R., The geology of Dun Mountain, Nelson, N. Z. Part I. New Zealand J. Geol. and Geophys.8, 3–34 (1965).Google Scholar
  12. 12.
    Lounamaa, J., Trace Elements in Plants Growing Wild on Different Rocks in Finland. Ann. Soc. Zool. Botan. Fenn. ‘Vanam’.29, 1–196 (1956).Google Scholar
  13. 13.
    Malyuga, D. P., Biogeochemical Methods of Prospecting. Consultants Bureau, N.Y. (1964).Google Scholar
  14. 14.
    Margoshes, M. and Scribner, B. F., Simple are devices for spectral excitation in controlled atmospheres. Applied Spectroscopy18, 154 (1964).Google Scholar
  15. 15.
    Middleton, G. V., Statistical inference in geochemistry,in Studies in Analytical Geochemistry. Roy. Soc. Canada, Special Publ. No.6, (1963).Google Scholar
  16. 16.
    Nicolls, O. W., Provan, D. M. G., Cole, M. M. and Tooms, J. S., Geobotany and geochemistry in mineral exploration in the Dugald River area, Cloncurry, Australia. Trans. Inst. Min. Metall.74, 695–799 (1964).Google Scholar
  17. 17.
    Paribok, T. A. and Alexeyeva-Popova, N. V., Content of some chemical elements in the wild plants of the Polar Urals as related to the problem of the Serpentine Vegetation.’ Botan. Zh.51, 339–53 (1966).Google Scholar
  18. 18.
    Robinson, W. O., Edgington, G. and Byers, H. G., Chemical studies of infertile soils derived from rocks generally high in Mg and generally high in Cr and Ni. U.S. Dept. Agr. Tech. Bull. No.471 (1935).Google Scholar
  19. 19.
    Soane, B. D. and Saunders, D. H., Nickel and chromium toxicity of serpentine soils in Southern Rhodesia. Soil Sci.88, 322–330 (1959).Google Scholar
  20. 20.
    Walker, R. B., The ecology of serpentine soils. II. Factors affecting plant growth on serpentine soils. Ecology35, 259–266 (1954).Google Scholar
  21. 21.
    Walker, R. B., Walker, H. M. and Ashworth, P. R., Calcium-magnesium nutrition with special reference to serpentine soils. Plant Physiol.30, 214–221 (1955).Google Scholar
  22. 22.
    Warren, H. V. and Delavault, R. E., Biogeochemical prospecting for cobalt. Trans. Roy. Soc. Canada.51, 33–37 (1957).Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Martinus Nijhoff 1968

Authors and Affiliations

  • G. L. Lyon
    • 1
  • R. R. Brooks
    • 1
  • P. J. Peterson
    • 2
  • G. W. Butler
    • 2
  1. 1.Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryMassey UniversityPalmerston NorthNew Zealand
  2. 2.Plant Chemistry Division DSIRPalmerston NorthNew Zealand

Personalised recommendations