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NUTRIFiONAL EVALumoz-c or: $ELECTED
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Richard N. awnsi‘ra
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NUTRITIONAL EVALUATION OF SELECTED TAXUS MEDIA HICKSI

 

By

RICHARD Ni _B_QONSTRA

A THESIS

Submitted to the School for Advanced Graduate Studies of Michigan
State University of Agriculture and Applied Science
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE

Depart ment of Horticulture

1956

:rHr—ZSIS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The author wishes to express his appreciation
to Dr Donald P. Watson and to Dr A.~ L, Kenworthy for
their guidance and assistance; and to Patricia L. Boonstra

for her constant encouragement and understanding.

 

NUTRITIONAL EVALUATION OF SELECTED TAXUS MEDIA HICKSI

 

BY

RICHARD N. BOONSI' RA

AN ABSTRACT

Submitted to the School for Advanced Graduate Studies of Michigan
State University of Agriculture and Applied Science
in partial fulﬁllment of the requirements
for the degree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE

Department of Horticulture

1956

Approved M p w CIA/[40x

RICHARD N. BOONS'T RA ABSTRACT

This investigation was designed to determine the nutrient status of Taxus

media hicksi, growing at selected locations in southern Michigan. Leaf analysis

 

was employed to establish actual or incipient deﬁciencies or toxicities, and to es-
tablish standard levels for each element. The assessments of nutrient status
from soil analyses were compared to those determined from leaf analyses.

Samples were collected over the growing season at East Lansing to
establish seasonal variation in nutrient levels for these plants, and to determine
the validity of sampling in summer. Samples were collected in July from both
good and poor plants growing on six representative sites in southern Michigan.

Leaves were analyzed for nitrogen by the Kjeldahl method. for potas-
sium by ﬂame photometer, for phosphorous, calcium, magnesium, iron, man-
ganese, copper, zinc, and boron by spectrographic analysis.

Soil samples were obtained at each site and analyzed by the Spurway
method, using active soil extracts. Total exchangeable bases were determined,
using a versenate titration for calcium and magnesium, and ﬂame photometer

f or potassium.

Nitrogen was found to be satisfactory on all sites sampled. Phos-
phorous was found to be below normal on one-half of the sites. Potassium deﬁ-
ciency was found on several sites, associated with higher pH, and the use of

potassium on low pH soils had not caused any deﬁciencies of calcium and

RICHARD N. BOONS'TRA ABSTRACT - 2

magnesium, although levels of these two elements were generally below normal
in plants on these soils.

Early spring appeared to be the best time to sample this crop. Copper
and zinc determinations were unreliable in July. Boron and magnesium levels
were changing in the tissues at this time.

Soil tests in which active extracts were used did not appear to be a
reliable method of determining the nutrient status of M' The versenate
titrations of calcium and magnesium showed a high correlation with the levels
of these two elements in the leaves.

The average composition of the better plants found in the survey was
used as the proposed standard for the interpretation of leaf analyses of T_Lxu_s

media hicksi. Expressed as percent of dry weight, the average composition was:

 

nitrogen, 2. 15; phosphorous, 0. 49; potassium, 1. 96; calcium, 0. 54; magnesium,
0. 36; iron, 0. 012; manganese, 0. 0241; copper, 0. 0012; zinc, 0.0029; and boron,
0. 0056.

It was concluded that after the reliability of these proposed standards
was determined by sampling in at least two more seasons, and the signiﬁcance
of departures from normal for each element was investigated, leaf analysis
would provide a very useful aid in the diagnosis of nutrient deﬁciencies for
this crop.

The thesis is supplemented by ﬁve tables and nine ﬁgures.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
Leaf Analysis as a Diagnostic Technique . . . , . . . . l
Procedure.~ . ., ....................... 14
Results - Presentation and Discussion . . . ,, . . , . . 23
Interpretation of Results . . . . . . . . . , . . . , , , 48
Summary . ._ . , . . . . . . . , i . . ; i . . . . , 50

Bibliography.,..,,.,...........,, 52

LIST OF TABLES

 

Page

. Composition of the Normal Plants Affected and not Affected
byFrost..................... 28
. Use of Fertilizer on Sites Investigated . . . . . . . i, 30
. Proposed Standards for Taxus media hicksi . . . . . . . 41
Evaluation of Fertility Levels - Soil and Leaf Analysis . . 44

. Total Exchangeable Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium; Base
Saturation; pH; and Cation Exchange Capacity of Soils. . 47

LIST OF FIGURES

1. Location of sampling sites .

II. Seasonal variation in levels of nutrients in Taxus media

 

hicksi .

 

III. Seasonal variation in levels of nutrients in Taxus media

 

hiCkSi I O I O 0 O I »3 O 0 -. ' I U 3 O D O ......

IV. Intensity-balance Charts 1-4

V. Intensity-balance Charts 5-8 .

VI. Intensity-balance Charts 9-12 .
VII. Intensity-balance Charts 13-16 .
VIII. Intensity-balance Charts 17-20 .

IX, Variation found in good plants .

Page

17
24

25
32
34
36
37
39

42

LEAF ANALYSIS AS A DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUE

The law of the minimum, the law of dimishing returns, the zones
of nutrition, and nutrient element balance are important principles which
have been evolved to relate the composition of the leaf to the nutrition of
the plant (Blackman, 1905; Mitscherlich, 1909; Macy, 1936; Shear et al_.,
1946).

Blackman (1905) proposed the law of limiting factors, in which
plant growth was limited by "that" factor in least supply. He felt that in-
creasing "that" factor, whether it was the level of an essential element or
some environmental or soil factor, should result in increased growth up to
the point where some other factor became limiting.

In contrast to the law of the minimum, in which a linear relation
between the yield and the amount of nutrient given was expected (Goodall
and Gregory, 1947), Mitscherlich (1909) believed that the curve relating
the two should be a hyperbola, approaching a maximum value with maximum
gradient at low nutrient levels. When a single nutrient element was increased
in the presence of an excess of all other factors, Goodall and Gregory (1947)
believed that both field and pot culture experiments confirmed this law of
diminishing returns.

Macy (1936) related the nutrient concentration and yield response

of plants to three zones of nutrition: a zone of "minimum percentage" in

which the nutrient concentration remained constant and the yields in-
creased; a zone of "poverty adjustment" in which the nutrient concentra-
tion and yields increased simultaneously; and a zone of "luxury consumption"
in which the nutrient concentrations increased and the yields were constant.
The "critical percentage" separated sharply the zone of "luxury consump-
tion" from the zone of "poverty adjustment".

Shear, eta: (1946) emphasized and elaborated the importance of
nutrient balance concept in the evaluation of the nutritional status of plants.
They stated that maximum growth and yield were possible only as a result
of the coincidence of optimum intensity and balance of all nutrient elements.
They believed that as one element varied from optimum, maximum growth
was possible only when all elements were brought into balance with the in-
tensity of that element.

In addition to these basic concepts, the comments of various other
workers were of interest.

Kenworthy (1949) stated that leaf or plant analyses had shown that
the level of one nutrient element might vary considerably. The amount present
in the material analyzed varied from a very low to a very high value. He ob-
served that at very low values visible deficiency symptoms were often present,
while at very high values a visible symptom of excess or a deficiency symptom
for some other element often occurred.

He mentioned that somewhere between the values for optimum

growth and the value where deficiency symptoms might occur, there was

a range in plant composition _in which the plant would respond to nutrient
element applications. This range he‘called "hidden hunger" or "hidden
deficiency". There was also a range in composition somewhere between
the optimum values and the values where visible "excess" symptoms
might occur, in which additions of a nutrient element resulted in a re-
duction in plant growth. This range he called "hidden excess" or "approach-
ing excess". I

Working with rubber trees, Chapman (1941) demonstrated that
the relation between leaf composition and growth rate was often linear.

Ulrich (1943) deﬁned critical concentration of a nutrient as a
level at or below which the grOwth and yield of a plant decreased. He
believed that there should be no increase in yield by raising the level of
an element above the critical percentage, and that these critical levels
were fairly constant for a given crop (Ulrich, 1948).

Lundegardh (1951) pointed out that practical standards of leaf
composition were not absolute values, but that relative concentrations
of other nutrients had to be considered. His conception was that the
essential elements could interact, not only with each other, but also
with non-essential elements, and with such environmental factors as light,
temperature, and moisture supply in inﬂuencing plant growth.

Reuther and Smith (1954) concluded that neither soil nor climate

appreciably influenced the fundamental nutrient requirements of citrus.

Thomas (1937) presented a method of interpretation which con-
sidered both intensity and balance of nutrition. His work dealt with the
analysis of extracts of plant tissue and has been highly developed as a
method labeled "foliar diagnosis". The sum of the percentages of nitro-
gen-phosphorous-potassium and calcium-magnesium-potassium was re-
garded as an intensity factor and the ratio of the milliequivalents of each

to the sum of the milliequivalents in the group was regarded as a balance

 

factor. However, Goodall and Gregory (1947) pointed out that the use of
ratios tended to obscure other relationships which might have been of
equal or greater importance in interpretation.

Lundegardh (1943) in explaining why leaf analysis is considered
an index of the nutrient status of the plant and the soil pointed out that
the absorbing power of the roots in part regulated the concentration of
salts in the leaves, and that the nutrient salt transformations taking place
in the green, assimilating leaves controlled the growth of the plant. He
believed that leaf analysis not only gave a summation of the extraction
of salts from the soil during a period of several weeks, but in addition pre-
sented a picture of soil saturation at the time of sampling. This conclusion
was based on the fact that the vegetative parts of the plant were still vig-
orous, although fully grown when the samples were taken. Several workers
typified the concentration of nutrient elements in the leaves as the summa—
tion of all of the factors affecting plant nutrition (Goodall and Gregory, 1947;

Ulrich, 1943).

Reuther and Smith (1954) stated that the leaves were regarded
not only as the seat of carbon assimilation by the plant, but also as or-
gans sensitive to, and exerting an inﬂuence on other fundamental pro-
cesses in the whole plant. In. addition, leaves functioned as a part of
the plants mineral and carbohydrate storage resevoir. Thus, concen-
trations of mineral nutrients in leaves not only inﬂuenced the efficiency
of the photosynthetic machinery within the leaf, but also reflected nutrient
conditions inﬂuencing the vigor and fruitfulness of the whole plant.

They mentioned that tissues other than leaves also reﬂected the nutrient
status of plants, and had been used for diagnostic purposes to some ex-
tent with certain crops. Generally, leaves were found to be a practical,
sensitive, and convenient index of the nutrient status of citrus trees
(Reuther and Smith, 1954).

Thomas (1944) concluded that the experimental evidence showed
that the growth and yield of plants were regulated by the amounts of nut ri-
ent salts present in the green, assimilating parts of the plant.

Goodall and Gregory (1947) pointed out that nutrition could affect
the growth and yield of the plant in many other ways than by direct effects
on assimilation. They concluded that, even where an unsatisfactory
nutritional condition affected the yield by reducing the assimilation, the
analysis of some other part, or of the plant as a whole, could provide

a more sensitive index of the nutrition than would analysis of the leaf it self.

They also mentioned that the optimum time to sample might not
be independent of the varying external conditions. Since changes in light,
temperature, and water supply affected the distribution of nutrients among
plant parts, one part might provide a more reliable type of sample in one
year, another plant part in the following year.

In diagnosing boron deficiency in apples, Askew and Thomson
(1937) preferred an analysis of the fruit. Christ and Ulrich (1954)
found‘in the case of the grape vine, that both the potassium and nitrate
concentrations changed more in the petioles than in the leaf—blades with
the varying nutritional conditions; and moreover, that these differences
were more highly significant.

The importance of the physiological age of samples was pointed
out by many workers (Goodall and Gregory, 1947; Reuther and Smith, 1954;
Ulrich, 1948; Wood, 1947; Lundegardh, 1951; Thomas, 1945; Boynton and
Compton, 1945). Levels of nutrients in a leaf changed as that leaf grew,
matured, and became senescent. Leaves would thus have different normal
compositions, depending on the stage of development at which they were
analyzed. Particular stages of development were shown to best indicate
deficiencies of particular elements. Certain stages of development were
to be avoided because of rapid ﬂuctuations in the level of an element at
that time.

Conclusions differed as to the proper stage of development at

which to sample, depending on the crop and element in question. Tamm
(1954), having found levels of nutrients to be too variable in summer.
sampled forest trees in the fall. July and August were recommended as
the best times to sample by workers in orchard trees (Kenworthy, 1953;
Reuther and Boynton, 1940; Lilleland and Brown, 1942; Chapman and Brown,
1950).

Goodall and Gregory (1947) commented that the optimum time
for sampling might be expected to differ for different nutrient elements,
so that a single sampling time could not be optimal for all elements. In
respect to time of sampling, they hOped that the technique adopted would
fall within a fairly wide range around the optimum.

Many workers found recently matured tissue to be the best indi-
cation of nutrient status (Chapman and Fullmer, 1951; Lundegardh, 1943;
Ulrich, 1948; Reuther and Smith, 1954). Levels were generally more
constant at this time than during periods of rapid growth. Redistribution
of minerals was not great in recently matured tissue, and dry weights
were more constant.

Differences in the nutrient content of leaves as a result of their
positions on the plant were mentioned by many investigators (Goodall and
Gregory, 1947; Ulrich, 1943; Shear 29.9.1.3 1946), all of whom believed

that samples should be from the same morphological position on the plant.

Leaf analysis often has been found to better indicate nutritional
conditions than an analysis of the soil. For grapes, field crOps, and
grains it has been concluded that chemical analysis of soil was of limited
value in determining fertilizer requirements as compared with leaf analy-
sis (Ulrich, 1948; Lundegardh, 1951).

Christ and Ulrich (1954) mentioned that one of the limitations of
leaf analysis of grapes was that the analysis could not tell the vineyardist
the exact amount of fertilizer to apply to overcome a deficiency. Once
fertilizers had been applied, however, their adequacy or inadequacy could
be determined by the analysis of plant samples collected later in the sea-
son or during the following year.

Scarseth (1943) believed that since only the nutrients that entered
the plant were effective, it was important to know whether or not the plant.
was absorbing the nutrient.

After finding differences in corn yields on six plots, Lynd, Turk,
and Cook (1949) demonstrated that chemical soil tests could not account for
the differences. They found a positive correlation of total nitrogen by leaf
analysis with the corn yields.

Reuther and Smith (1954) stated that the soil analysis method
rested on the assumptions that roots would extract nutrients from the soil
in a manner comparable to chemical soil extractants, and that there was

a simple, direct relation between the extractable concentration of ions

 

in the soil and uptake by plants. There was ample evidence that these
assumptions were not entirely justified. They considered that ion antagonism,
time, and vital processes were of considerable importance in regulating the
uptake of nutrients by plants. They believed that these phenomena could not
be adequately evaluated by means of soil analysis. Such factors as soil
aeration, soil moisture supply, soil temperature, and amount of food sup-
plied by the top inﬂuenced uptake of ions by roots, and were not measured
by soil analysis.

Reuther and Smith (1954) mentioned a further limitation of soil
analysis- -the difficulty in obtaining a sample which adequately would reﬂect
the soil explored by the root system, especially in perennial crops. They
believed that the concentration of nutrients in leaves in a comparable num-
ber of samplings would integrate more adequately the effects of these
dynamic substrate factors on uptake by the plant. They concluded that
soil analysis data could provide valuable supplementary information con-
cerning the probable nutrient status of a citrus orchard. They pointed out
that cation exchange capacity, pH, salinity, reserves of nutrients, and
degree of fixation of added nutrients might not be directly indicated by leaf
analysis. They concluded that an evaluation of some of these factors by
soil analysis might be valuable for the intelligent formulation of a practical

fertilizer program for tree crops

10

Boynton and Compton (1945) concluded that leaf analysis for
nitrogen. phosphorus, and potassium, could not take the place of care-

' ful observations of tree behaviour and appearance, of the development
of visible leaf or fruit symptoms, or of past climatic and management
conditions, but that chemical analyses of leaves, coupled with these ob-
servations might make possible a positive diagnosis that no single one
would have permitted.

The factors inﬂuencing the intake of any given nutrient by a
plant were so numerous, according to Salter and Ames (1928), that they
precluded the hope of using plant composition as a guide to soil require-
ments unless steps were taken either to control or measure the influence
of the factors. Hall (1905) in finding greater yearly variation in leaf
composition than any variation between differentially fertilized plots,
indicated that it was impossible to diagnose soil conditions through plant
composition. Goodall and Gregory (1947) believed these objections were
not valid when the status of the crop, and not the soil, was of prime
concern.

Although in no way interfering with the use of plant analysis,
Carolus (1938) pointed out that fertilizer applications might make it diffi-
cult to secure a representative soil sample.

In 1947, Goodall and Gregory mentioned that more attention had

been given for a longer period of time to the development of methods of

ll.

soil analysis and to their standardization against field trials, than

to the same development and standardization of plant analysis. They
also stated that soil analysis for the trace elements had not been devel-.
oped and that plant analysis should be of importance in this diagnosis.

They further mentioned that a useful method of combining the
techniques of soil and plant analysis would be the use of soil analysis
as a means of determining what basal fertilizer dressing to apply be-
fore a crop was planted, using the results of subsequent periodical plant
analyses to determine whether that basal dressing was taken up by the
crop, whether it was adequate, and whether additional top or side
dressings were to be recommended.

Many workers agreed that the reliability of the diagnostic use
of leaf analysis rested on the reliability of the standards (Shear, e: 9.1:
1946; Chapman, 1945; Goodall and Gregory, 1947; Ulrich, 1943) and
according to Ulrich (1943) and Reuther and Smith (1954) the ultimate test
to which standards had to be subjected was a system of properly con-
trolled field plot-fertilizer experiments.

The possibility of error in expressing the nutrient content on a
percentage dry weight basis was pointed out by Reuther and Smith (1954).
Although their data showed a maximum range of only 2. 5 to 8. 7 percent
in carbohydrate content for citrus, they stated that changes in carbohydrate

levels might seriously affect the dry weight of leaf tissues and thus inﬂuence

percent composition of the mineral elements. Ulrich (1948) believed
that errors due to changes in dry weight could be largely overcome by
I using tissue of the same physiological age.

Chapman (1945) stated that the development of reliable methods
was a matter of carrying out sufficient experimental work to establish proper
standards, and to determine the significance of departures from these
standards in terms of yield and quality of plant product

Reuther and Smith (1954) warned that their leaf standards and in-
terpretations all presumed that the root systems of the trees sampled were
not handicapped or damaged by poor aeration. They stated that this common
difficulty rendered the soil unfavorable for vigorous root development and
tended to reduce the capacity of the feeder roots in taking up nutrients.
They suggested that any other factor which caused appreciable damage to
the root system was likely to cause apparent deficiencies of those elements
in scant, but normally adequate supply. They emphasized that conclusions
based on leaf analysis alone could lead to an erroneous diagnosis of a problem
unless disease, pest, soil tilth, and soil drainage factors were evaluated.
They wisely concluded that leaf analysis interpretation could never be a substitute
for a wide horticultural knowledge of the plant. It was only a guide useful for
improving the mineral nutrition factor in crop production. Boynton and
Compton (1945), Scarseth (1943), Cain and Galletta (1954), Ulrich (1943),

and Goodall and Gregory (1947) also stressed these possibilities.

12.

13.

While her preliminary data did not demonstrate losses suffi-
cient to cause any great errors, Mes (1954) mentioned the possibility
that losses of nutrients through leaching of the leaves by rain, dew, and
irrigation water might affect the reliability of leaf analysis.

Reuther and Smith (1954) stated that most plants had a remark—
able inherent capacity for adapting themselves to a wide range of supply
of the nutrient elements, provided none were in the deficient range.

They concluded that from the standpoint of practical crop production, the
optimum ranges of concentration and balance were fairly broad and that

it was practical to develop and apply empirical standards of leaf composi-
tion which provided very useful, but not entirely infallible, guides for
evaluating the nutritional status of citrus trees.

Kenworthy (1949) mentioned that plant analyses had shown that
optimum growth and production might occur when the analysis for any one
nutrient element varied considerably. As a result of this, he suggested
that there appeared to be a range of values in plant composition at which
optimum growth, visible deficiency or excess symptoms, and "hidden

deficiency” or "hidden excess" might occur.

 

PROCEDURE

The purpose of this work was to investigate the nutrient status

of an ornamental crop, Taxus media hicksi, growing at selected locations

 

in southern Michigan. The investigation was designed: (l) to determine
whether actual or incipient deficiencies or toxicities of each nutrient ele-
ment existed; (2) to establish standard levels for each of the elements
considered; and (3) to compare the assessments of nutrient status from
soil analysis to those determined from leaf analysis.
It was observed that '_I_‘_ax_1_i§_ had two yearly periods of growth.
The spring flush of growth was terminated in July, at which time the plants
remained more or less quiescent until adequate rainfall caused a second
period of growth in August and September. The cessation of growth in
July was characterized by a "hardening" of the new growth. This seemed
to satisfy the requirements for a recognizable, definite sampling stage.
New, terminal growth was used as the plant part to be sampled.
These plants were commonly sheared in the ﬁeld to promote compactness
which made old tissue less available. New terminal growth was abundantly
available in July. Sampling at this time followed the practice of using
recently "matured" tissue, which had been found to generally give the
best results (Chapman and Fullmer, 1951; Lundegardh, 1943; Ulrich, 1948;

Reuther and Smith, 1954).

14.

The cultivar hicksi is an upright form of Taxus media, and

 

samples were collected by removing the terminal three inches of several
of the most vigorous shoots from the tops of at least thirty plants in the
group to be sampled. After washing, samples were placed in paper bags.
The group of plants to be sampled was chosen on the basis of vigor and
uniformity.

Because the investigation was confined to a single season, the
stage of development for sampling had to be pre-determined. Rapid
changes might take place in the levels of an element over a short period
of time, and if such changes were occurring during the sampling period,
the accuracy of the results would be reduced.

To determine the validity of the sampling period and to follow
these changes in nutrient concentrations with development over the grow-
ing season, samples were collected at East Lansing from a commercial
field grown plot at monthly intervals, for seven months beginning March
15, 1955. There were marked differences in the length of terminal shoots,
apparently all lengths falling either well above, or well below an average
value. Consequently, two samples were collected each month, one from
the previous season's vigorous terminal growth, and one from the less
vigorous growth. This was continued until June, when differences were no
longer apparent, and the sampling procedure consisted of one sample of cur-

rent growth each month.

15.

16.

On the night of May 8th, a minimum temperature of 30°F.

(U. S. Department of Commerce, Weather Bureau, local climatological
data, East Lansing, Michigan, May, 1955) completely killed all new
growth on the plants being sampled. This dead tissue was separated from
the May 15 samples and analyzed independently.

By July 16, subsequent growth was less rapid and the shoots
were less succulent. On July 25, 26, and 27, samples were collected
from ﬁve other sites in Michigan in an attempt to determine any variation
in normal nutrient levels as a result of location. The samples were from
plants 4 to 6 years from cuttings growing in field plots at commercial
nurseries at Monroe, Bay City, Vicksburg, Allegan, and Stevensville
(Figure l). The plants growing on each site were not at the same stage of
development because the retarding effect of the Great Lakes had delayed
the growth in the Bay City, Monroe, and Stevensville areas.

Constant levels of each element would minimize the effects of
differences in stages of maturity. With this in mind, samples were ob-
tained at weekly intervals from the 16th to the 30th of July at the East
Lansing plot.

Soil samples were obtained by means of a standard soil sampling
tube. This was inserted ten inches into the ground at twelve points along
the row .of plants The samples were mixed, and a half-pint of this soil

mixture was used for analysis (Spurway and Lawton, 1949)

‘s-I-s'”

LOCATION OF SAMPLING SITES

0
ALLEGAN

o
° VICKSBURG
STEVENSVILLE

 

‘I

F_—

FIGURE I

o
BAY CITY

EAST LANSING

MONROE
o

17.

18.

At the time freezing injury occurred in East Lansing, the
current season's growth was prolific, a uniform light green color, and
about one inch long. The growth occurring on last season's less vigor-
ous terminals was much less prolific, a uniform light green color, and
about one-half inch long. Subsequent new growth was irregular in length,
chlorotic, and frequency of shoots did not occur with its former uniform
distribution. Since some new growth on each shoot had regained a light
green color, the samples collected on June 15 were a mixture of old and
new tissue, chlorotic and non-chlorotic. By July 16, all new growth was
similar.

In sampling plants from the various locations, it was found that
all sites had not been equally damaged by low temperature. Damage
varied from "none", in which terminal shoots were as long as 18 inches
(Monroe and Allegan); to "partial" in which a few shoots were longer
than 14 inches, while the majority were 1/2 to 9 inches long (Stevensville);
to "complete", in which all shoots were 4 to 10 inches long (East Lansing
and Vicksburg).

The nutrient status of 'I‘_a_x_u_§ expresses itself in amount of growth.
Two good measures of vigor of growth would be maximum, minimum, and
average length of shoots, or total length of all new shoots. Since these
lengths obviously were affected variably by the frost, no such measure of

vigor was attempted. No comparisons were drawn between plants on

19.

which complete loss of new growth had occurred, because it was be-
lieved that soil moisture would be too variable between locations during
the month and a half of subsequent growth. Effects on nutrition were
evidenced by the completely changed character of the growth occurring
before and after the frost at East Lansing.

Often there were wide differences in the apparent vigor, es-
pecially when it was expressed in the height and width of the plants.

Since all plants were of about the same age, size of the plants was used
as a measure of optimum or sub-optimum nutrition. Unfortunately, this
was the only basis of evaluation available. No deficiency symptoms
were recognizable.

Accordingly, the average composition of those plants which
apparently had been making satisfactory growth was used as a standard
level of nutrition.

Leaf samples were washed to remove spray residues, dried,
ground in a Wiley mill, and stored in stoppered bottles. Prior to analysis,
they were oven dried at 100° C. Nitrogen was determined by the Kjeldahl
method, and potassium by ﬂame photometer. Analysis for eight other
elements was made spectrographically, using D. C. are for zinc, and A. C.
spark for phosphorous, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, manganese.
and boron.

Soil samples were analyzed for nitrate, phosphate, potassium,

20.

magnesium, manganese, iron, calcium, chloride, and sulphate by
the Spurway method (Spurway and Lawton, 1949), using active soil
extracts. They were analyzed for cation exchange capacity by leaching
with . l N ammonium acetate, adding 10% sodium chloride solution after
an alcohol wash, then leaching with ammonium acetate after another
alcohol wash. Sodium in the extract, a measure of cation exchange
capacity, was determined by ﬂame photometer. Soil samples were
further analyzed for total exchangeable calcium and magnesium by a
versenate titration method adapted from Cheng and Bray (1951), and for
total exchangeable potassium by ﬂame photometer.

Kenworthy illustrated the use of a nutrient-element balance
chart in 1949. Later he demonstrated the use of the coefﬁcient of
variation of the standard values for each element in a chart presentation
(Kenworthy, 1953). This procedure involved relating the specific con-
centration of an element mathematically to the optimum level of that
element, then correcting the fraction obtained for the coefficient of
variation found in determining the standards. In effect, the result lowered
all values above optimum (1.00), and raised all those below optimum. It
also decreased to some degree the apparent difference from optimum which
had no nutritional significance, but was the result of optimum values being
a range of concentrations and not a specific value. The charts were further

divided into the following zones of nutrition: 0. 00-0 52 of optimum— -a

21.

deficient zone; 0. 52-0. 84--a zone of hidden deficiency (reduced growth
and yield with no deficiency sumptom s); 0. 84-1. 00- -a zone approaching
optimum; 1.00-1. 16-—a zone above optimum; 1.16-1.48--a zone approach-
ing excess; and l. 48 and above- -a zone of excess. His figures were
based on vast experience with tree-fruit crops, which had shown that his
data could be interpreted accurately in this way. Norman (1955) observed
that the minimum percentage of an element is frequently less than half
the critical percentage (optimum).

Although these figures for the various zones did not necessarily
apply directly to laxus, they were used in the present investigation in
order to present a graphical picture of nutrient balance and intensity in
the plants.

This method of presentation might avoid placing too much em-
phasis on a low value obtained for an element that has a wide range of
"normal" composition values, since its value would be raised considerably
because of the high coefficient of variation. Goodall and Gregory (1947),
tabulated data on normal ranges of some elements in a variety of crops
which showed an overlap between the range in which deficiency symptoms
occurred and the range found in normal plants.

It was recognized that when high values for the coefficient of
variation were found, values which fell in the deficient range on the chart

could not be obtained. It was believed, however, that balance between

elements was, nevertheless, still sufficiently well presented .30 that
interpretations could be made showing probable deleterious effects of

the level shown.

22.

23.

RESULTS

PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION

 

 

In this section the following items are presented and discussed:
(1) the variation in the levels of the nutrients over the growing season,
(2) an evaluation of the sampling period, (3) frost effects, (4) fertilizer
use, (5) intensity-balance charts, (6) standard values, and (7) fertility
levels as revealed by leaf and soil analyses.

The variations in the level of the nutrients over the growing
season are presented in FiguresII and Ill. The levels of potassium, cal-
cium, magnesium, zinc, and manganese increased in the new tissue
during the spring ﬂush of growth, while the levels of nitrogen, phosphorous.
iron, copper, zinc, and boron decreased. The results for potassium,
manganese, zinc, and boron, were opposite to those found by Reuther
and Smith (1954) for citrus.

There was no apparent growth in August and September. Terminal
buds were not visible and slow elongation of the shoots might have occurred.
Nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, iron, and manganese accumulated during
this time; zinc and potassium decreased; while phosphorous, copper, and
boron remained constant

In the previous season's growth, all elements except nitrogen,

24.

SEASONAL VARIATION IN LEVELS OF NUTRIENT ELEMENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN TAXUS MEDIA HICKSI
*' NITROGEN .. THOSPHOROUS
0.8-
3.01
‘six“ 0.6'
2.0. \..,, “‘ N“
'-...., -------
0.24 "WWW
* POTASSIUM “ CALCIUM
2'“ LB"
M ''''' W'Ka...”
L“ LI 1 ~ ”.
03+ \ 0.4: /f
“ MAGNESIUM
new oaowru
an \‘x ------ vmosous OLD suoors
/\"~:.; ~-----~~-~---«-«L£ss woonous OLD suoors
0.21
x on WEIGHT BASIS

25.

SEASONAL VARIATION IN LEVELS OF NUTRIENT ELEMENTS
IN TAXUS MEDIA HICKSI

 

 

 

 

 

m; IRON ”"" MANGANESE

300i
400 q

2001 ,

I
/—~ f”-
I
’I
..... zoo ‘

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IOO‘
E E 3 g f g g 3 I 3 3 f 2 I
m COPPER ZINC
I
I
I
I
I
o
I
'I
40 ‘ ’0 40 II I”
a "
', \\ ’l
I
c’ ----- k
20 'I
‘ 20
m BORON
NEW GROWTH
'00 " ------ VIGOROUS OLD SNOOTS
»--------'--°~-LESS VIGOROUS OLD SNOOTS
504
’_ x DRY WEIGHT BASIS
.......
201

FIGURE III

26.

calcium, and magnesium were fairly constant until April 15, at which
time rapid changes occurred. Nitrogen, calcium, and magnesium de-
creased between March 15 and April 15.

The amount of nitrogen, phosphorous, iron, boron, and, to a
lesser extent, potassium was higher in the new growth than in the old
tissue from which the new growth was derived. The other elements were
lower in the new tissue than in old tissue when new growth first appeared.

The differences in trends over the growth period and initial levels
in the new growth cannot be explained on the basis of ion mobility in the
plant, since both mobile and non-mobile ions showed the same character-
istics.

All plants sampled were not at the same stage of maturity.
Constant levels of elements in the leaves as they approach and reach
maturity would minimize errors caused by differences in maturity, and
thus, variations during the three week period in July, during which weekly
samples were obtained at East Lansing, are of interest. Nitrogen, phos-
phorous, potassium, calcium, and, to a lesser extent, manganese were
constant for this period of sampling. As shown for copper and zinc, the
sampling plus analytical error at any one time was probably high because
the wide ﬂuctuations indicated in this data probably did not actually exist.
Boron was decreasing and magnesium increasing during this period, which

should be reﬂected in higher boron and lower magnesium contents in the

27.

"normal" plants that were retarded in development by their proximity
to the Great Lakes. Actually there were no such relationships apparent,
but the possibility is still present that boron levels are lower and mag-
nesium levels higher for the Stevensville, Monroe, and Bay City sites
than analysis indicated. Because of the apparent errors in copper and
zinc determinations, such trends would be obscured.

Since the levels of all but three elements were fairly constant
in early spring, this period would appear to be a more favorable time to
obtain samples for diagnostic purposes. Although no samples of poor
plants were obtained in early spring, there should be differences in com-
position between normal and poor plants at this time which would permit
diagnosis of shortages. Standard values would, of course, be different
for this sampling period than for samples obtained from new growth.

In addition to variations during the sampling period there were
several other factors which probably had an inﬂuence on leaf composition.

One of these factors was the frost damage which occurred in May
The composition of those "normal" plants from the two sites on which
there apparently had been frost damage compared to the two sites on
which no apparent frost damage occurred is presented in Table 1. It
may be significant that the composition of all elements except phosphorous
was consistently either above or below normal on the non-damaged plants.

These plants were above normal in their contents of nitrogen, calcium,

28.

EMS? in Eocene mm commoumxo mega E... 352

 

 

 

 

2.8. R8. 88. 88. as. 2.. so. a: am. 3." not .3 338882

mmoo .. mNoo. «so. 003. N8 . om . vm . mm A an . on .N ammo“: .moacoz
wmoo . omoo. Nﬁoo... 3&9 NS. om . vm . co 4 av . ma .N mad?» cum—onwam
:bo . owoo . hmoo. whvo . m3 . ow. we . NN .N cw . ma .N Chou.“ 3 comemD

$8. 88. 88. 2.8. woo. 3: an. :3 om. £4 mangoes .masaﬁaam

 

m :N :0 52 mm ME e0 M m 2 258 5332380 5 owned

 

 

amoun— >n mpoobma 82 use .5833. magma :2:qu 2.: mo cogmanoU

H mdmmﬁ.

29

magnesium, and iron, and below normal in potassium, manganese,
copper, zinc and boron. Since the standard values for these elements
were an average of the composition Of all normal plants, the standards
for the first group of elements might have been higher. Similarly, the
standards for the second group might have been lower if the frost had
not occurred. I

This effect might be explained on the basis of the shorter grow-
ing season for the frost damaged plants. Where the initial ﬂush of growth
was not killed by frost, growth took place over a longer period than on
sites where the first ﬂush of growth was killed by frost.

The other factor having an inﬂuence on plant composition was the
use of fertilizer (Table 2). The application of each of the major nutrient
elements could be expected to have an effect on the levels of each of the
major elements. The three major bases, potassium, calcium, and
magnesium, could be expected to have an antagonistic effect on each other,
and applications of any of the major bases could be expected to depress the
availability of the heavy metals (Lundegardh, 1951; Drake and Scarseth, 1939;
Ulrich, 1948; Shear, E11.” 1948; Chapman, 1941).

Potassium was the only one of the major bases added on these
sites, and the correlation coefficient for potassium-calcium levels was -. 724,
significant at the 1% level, and for potassium-magnesium levels was - 467,

significant at the 5% level. The correlation for levels of calcium and

30.

TABLE 2

Use of Fertilizer on Sites Investigated

Monroe
1952 - 64-24-24
.1953 - 64-48-48, 4000 gal/A sewage
1954 - 64-80-80, 4000 gal/A sewage
1955 - 88-120-120

Bay City

— 1952 - heavy application of manure
1953 - none
1954 - heavy application of manure, Rapid-Gro in irrigation water
1955 - none

East Lansing
1954 - 60-60-60
1955 - 30-30-30, 2-2-2 in irrigation system

 

Vicksburg
1952 - 20-80-80

Allegan
Sawdust, manure, fertilizer each year

Stevensville
1953 - manure
1954 - 35-35-35
1955 - 62-0-0

 

Note: figures are rates of application expressed as pounds per
acre of nitrogen P205-K20

31

phosphorous was -. 574, significant at the 1% level.

The other significant correlations found were between levels of
calcium and iron, and calcium and boron, both significant positive corre-
lations. There were no signiﬁcant correlations between the levels of the
major nutrient elements, nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.

Thus, the use of complete nitrogen-phosphorous-potassium fer-
tilizers had some effect on the levels of other nutrients in plants on these
sites. These Effects were especially important in arriving at an estimate
of whether proper rates of fertilizer were being applied on each site.

The analyses of plants at each location are presented on intensity-
balance charts in Figures IV through V11. Charts 1. and 2 represent plants
sampled at Allegan. There were great differences in growth between the
two groups. The smaller plants, Chart 1, had received no fertilizer or
irrigation, while the larger plants, Chart 2, had received applications of
sawdust, manure, fertilizer, and water. The difference in intensity and
balance between the two could not account for the extreme differences in
growth. Water may have been the factor limiting the growth of the poorer
plants.

The plants represented by Charts 1, 3, and 4 were the best plants
found. The levels of all elements were not in the normal range. Although
the vigor of these plants appeared satisfactory, a correction of the lower

levels of certain nutrients may result in better growth. Thus, the plants

l ALLEGAN
6000 PLANTS

V. ..

- \‘5 I

. , {I
~‘ n+3; . .
'\ Ila) 3.x .

6.
’4-

Magnesium

3. MONROE
6000 PLANTS

FIGURE IV

 

 

HIDDEN DEFICIENCY

 

32.

 

2. ALLEGAN
P00}? PLANTS

 

Magnesium

4. VIC/(SPURS
6000 PLANTS

APPROACHINC EXCESS

33.

at Allegan (Chart, 1) may respond to additions of boron. The plants at Monroe
(Chart 3) may respond to additions of phosphorous, potassium, boron, and
manganese. No additional phosphorous should be applied at Vicksburg
(Chart 4) if the plants were side-dressed with fertilizer.

The analyses of samples from the poorer plants are presented in
Charts 5 through 8. Chart 5 represents a sample from a poor row in the
block at Monroe. Potassium deficiency was apparent, since not only was
the potassium level below normal, but magnesium and calcium levels were
in the excess range. Analysis of the better plants on this site indicated
that additional phosphorous might be needed. If phosphates were increased,
the high iron level in this analysis would probably decrease and calcium
levels may also decrease. This chart also revealed levels of manganese I
and zinc to be below normal, indicating that there may be some response
to additions of these elements. If the level of the three major bases were
corrected, complex interactions could be expected. This might cause a
change in the levels of all the minor elements

In the samples obtained at Bay City (Chart 6), potassium deficiency
was again apparent. Additions Of potassium should reduce the levels of
both calcium and magnesium, but here the level of magnesium was normal.
Thus, additions Of potassium should be accompanied by additions of mag-
nesium. Rate of application of phosphorous should also be increased, which

should not only raise the level Of phosphorous, but also decrease the high

 

5. MONROE 6. BAY O/TY
POOP PLANTS POOP PLANTS

 

Hgﬁ*":..£‘$”ﬂ""b~ I
1‘ ’. ,Ifailj‘ ' ’4
“i ' ﬁg '1’. Ea;

~ ‘ '. l
,{mvﬁ-
Afss-f ~ ’5

 

Z STEVENSV/LLE 8. STEVENSV/LLE
Pow? mmrs Pom mum

 

FIGURE V

35.

calcium level. Once these two corrections were made, there might be
responses to applications of manganese and boron, although these recom-
mendations should be determined by subsequent leaf analysis.

In Charts 7 and 8 the analyses of samples of the poorer plants at
Stevensville are presented. The analysis ‘of samples for the better plants
sampled on that site are presented in Chart 9. Plants represented by
Chart 7 were growing within the good row, although they were much smaller
than the normal plants in the row. Those represented by Chart 8 occurred
in a row that was uniformly poor. Some factor other than nutrition must
have caused the reduction in growth. Leaf analysis did indicate that there
might be some response to additions of calcium and magnesium and that
the rate of additions of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium could be
reduced. In the case of potassium, additions should be reduced to prevent
calcium and magnesium deficiencies.

Older, normal plants at East Lansing were also sampled (Charts
10, ll, 12). The 20-year-old plants represented by Chart 10 were less
vigorous than the 10- and 8-year-old plants (Charts 11 and 12), and leaf
analysis showed a slight deficiency of potassium.

The analyses of the three samples obtained on July 16, 23 and 30 at
East Lansing are presented in Charts 13, 14, and 15 These charts show
the extreme variation in copper and zinc levels discussed previously. Al-

though these plants were making satisfactory growth. they were slightly

I

. {£3237- 1}?! if”? .
,"~. I ."W’P’t T: I‘I‘. ”I”

 

 

.9. STEVENSV/LLE IO. EAST LANSING
6000 PLANTS 20 YEAR OLD PLANTS

 

 

ll. EAST LANSING /2. EAST LANSING
/0 YEAR OLD PLANTS 3 YEAR OLD PLANTS

FIGURE VI

 

l3. EAST LANSING
JULY /6

 

 

/5. EAST LANSING
JULY JO

 

FIGURE VII

l4. EAST LANSING
JULY 23

IS. mxus cusp/DA TA INTERMED/A
GOOO PLAN TS

37.

38.

less vigorous than the plants at Monroe, Vicksburg, and Allegan. The
charts indicated that these plants should respond to additions of phosphorous,
calcium, and magnesium. There may be response to added iron, but iron
levels‘would change as a result of additions of the previous three elements.
On this site, additions of potassium were too heavy for the existing calcium
and magnesium levels in the soil, and a continuationof the fertilizer pro-
gram would probably result in a deficiency of calcium or magnesium.

Several conclusions were drawn from the above analyses. Potas-
sium deficiency was associated with a pH in the range 6. 5-7. 0 (Monroe,
Bay City, Allegan). Levels of manganese and boron which were below normal
also occurred on these soils. These were the soils on which large appli-
cations of organic matter were made (Table 2). Although no low levels
were found, calcium and magnesium tended to be lower where soil pH
ranged between 4. 8 and 5. 5 (East Lansing, Vicksburg, and Stevensville).
Phosphorous levels were below normal and in the range of "hidden deficiency"
on half of the sites. Nitrogen levels were always satisfactory.

Other species and cultivars of I932? were sampled and the analyses
are presented in Charts 16 through 20, using the standard values obtained
for the cultivar _h_i_c_k_s_i_. All plants were growing in the same blocks as the

cultivar hicksi at East Lansing and Stevensville. Using these standards,

 

the cultivars _'I_‘. cuspidata intermedia and :1: media halloran could be

 

diagnosed correctly as being satisfactory. At East Lansing a very poor,

 

Magnesium

 

l7. TAXUS MED/A HALLORAN

GOOO PLAN TS

Al
W .W ’ . .
- , u
'I ‘ , .
a. '4 i v

. 7;?7
.l

a i5
a

,u’
I

 

l9. TAXUS cusp/0.4 TA. EXPANSA
POOR PL AN TS

FIGURE VIII

Magnesium

l8. TAXUS OUSP/OA TA

POOR PLAN TS

 

20. TAXUS CUSPIDA r4 EXPA ~54
G 000 PLAN TS

39.

40.

chlorotic group of the species I. cuspidata was found (Chart 18).

Excess manganese was indicated by the analysis, thus this species was
able to extract manganese from the soil more efficiently than the other
kinds growing on this site. .The excess manganese may not be the cause
of the reduced growth. The species may have different nutrient require-
ments or normal levels which could result in any of the elements shown
actually having been in the deficient range.

The cultivar, I. cuspidata expansa was found to contain large

 

amounts of zinc and manganese. . The differences in the levels of these two
elements between the group of plants at East Lansing, which was poor
(Chart 19), and those at Stevensville, which were satisfactory (Chart 20)
could not account for the differences in growth. Thus, it would appear
that there is a difference in normal composition between the species of
Taxus, especially for the element manganese and possibly for zinc.

The composition of the ten "normal" plant samples used in deter-
mining the standards are presented in Table 3. There are some variations
in the size of these plants, but the plants evaluated as poor were much smaller
(Figure IX). The three samples obtained at weekly intervals in July at East
Lansing from good plants were included so that the coefficient of variation
would include some measure of variations during July.

Previous analyses of Pinus. Picea, and Abies needles showed similar

 

 

results for nitrogen and phosphorous (Tamm, 1954), and for iron (Mitchell,

1 954).

41.

E995 >8 Eoouoq mm commouaxo magma 2d 652

 

 

m .ov

 

 

 

88 m .3 «.8 «.3. S: 4.8 «.2 98 8.8 m - 883:0 E3888
once. 38 . «So. 38 . «8. cm . vm . co 4 3.. 2 .N on?» oneness - emanates.
88. :8. 28. :8. So. 8. 8. : .N 9... 8.“ 2:55.68
88. 88. 88. 88. as. a... 8. E 4 an. a .N 58:...
88. 88. 88. 88. :o. a... 8. 2 .N 8. 2 .N 88383
88. 88. S8. 88. as. 8. 8. 8 s 8.. 8 .N 8222
:8. 88 28. 88. ms. 8. 8. 2 .N :2 84 mean Bogota
88. 88.. S8 88. m8. 8. 8. 8 a 8. 8 s mama 2938-2
88. $8. 88. $8. :8 8. 8. :2 8. 8 a 383 2938-8.
88., 88 S8. 88. m8. 8. 8. 8A 8. Ba 8 ii
2.8. 88. 88. 88. m8. 8. 8. as 8. 84 8 ha
88. 88. 88. 88. 88. 8. 8. 2 .N 8. 2 .N 2 :3
. uwﬁmcmq Hmwm
m :N :0 52 mm 92 «U M m Z 35E ooow Eob moEEmm

 

 

 

ROBE Soon.— msxmh new monocSm oomoaoum

m MAMZH.

  

A;
-‘ .I .
0" 0‘. ‘
raw f ,t "
W
.‘I

~ "‘~
ﬂ o. h'\

5-- -"\

GOOD PLAN T

 

42.

 

POOR PLANTS

 

VARIATION FOUND IN GOOD PLANTS

FIGURE IX

43.

A comparison of fertility levels as revealed by leaf and soil
analysis is presented in Table 4. Soil tests, using Spurway active ex-
tracts, for nitrates, phosphates, iron, and manganese did not accurately
reﬂect the amount of these elements in the plants. Soil nitrates were
measured as 4 lbs/A at East Lansing, 80 lbs/A at Monroe, and 0 lbs/A
at other sites, and yet leaf nitrogen was within the normal range in all
the plants. Phosphates tested from 1m 7 lbs/A, which constituted a very
low test, and yet phosphorous was above normal in the plants at Vicksburg
and Stevensville on soils testing 1 lb/A phosphates. Soil tests indicated
no iron in the active extracts of any of the soils. Manganese tested nor-
mal (l6 lbs/A) for the soil from Vicksburg, while leaf analysis showed
the level in the plants to be approaching excess. On the other sites, soil
tests for manganese were blank and manganese ranged from below normal
to normal in the plants. It would appear that if the soil test for manganese

was to be employed, optimum levels should be set lower for Taxus than the

 

16 lbs/A used for field crops (Spurway and Lawton, 1949).
An examination of the results for the three major bases, potassium,
calcium, and magnesium, indicated that analysis of Soil extracts was not

reliable for Taxus.

 

At Monroe, soil tests showed an excess of magnesium with 3 nor-
mal amount of calcium and potassium, while leaf analysis showed a deficiency

of potassium in respect to both calcium and magnesium. Soil tests indicated

44.

833 =8.st new Mme/Ema 3 95582.. ooaoeeocﬁa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9388 53 :wE m
mmooxo wcﬁoeouamw 82550 96%. v
REC: 82550 N
.35an 582 . 32 N
Eoﬁouoo 33 .39, N
been 3:53 0
$9323 “moA amwmwﬁcm mom :oﬁmggm
m. o m. o v m. m. o N o N o :2
m o m o . v m N o w o m c on
N a m. N m o N o N N m a 92
N H m N w H m M m H v m «U
m m. m m m m. m m M m N m. M
v N m N v M N N N H N M m
m. o m o m o m N m o m m z
mam.— :om Mao..— :ow “mod :om Hem..— Mﬂom weed mom “mod :3
ozgmcgocm :wwozd wasnmxog mime—m4 ammm CLO than 8.802

 

 

29:83 “mod new new I 226..— izﬁuom mo eoﬂmﬁgm

v misled.

45.

that potassium and calcium would be needed to bring about a balance of
the three major bases, but leaf analysis showed that only potassium would
be needed.

At Bay City, the soil was low in magnesium and calcium and
normal in potassium, indicating that dolomitic limestone should be applied
to correct the poor growth. Leaf tests showed that it was potassium which
was low and that any additions of calcium or magnesium would probably
result in further unbalance and reduced growth.

Soil tests at Vicksburg again indicated a need for potassium and
magnesium. The leaves contained normal amounts of potassium and mag-
nesium, with a slight excess of calCium. Here again applications of mag-
nesium would probably result in reduced growth.

At Stevensville, the soil tests indicated a need for lime applications.
Such applications should not reduce growth, since calcium was shown by leaf
analysis to be slightly below normal. The soil test indi cated a need for
magnesium even though the leaves contained a normal amount of this element.

At Allegan, calcium was deficient in the soil, although all three
bases were normal in the leaves.

The need for liming with dolomitic limestone was again indicated
by soil tests at East Lansing. The leaves were slightly below normal for
magnesium.

The one example of normal manganese in the soil was associated

46

with an excess in the plants This might be the result of the use of

survey data to establish the standard for an element. The standard pro-

posed in this example might be too low as a result of a general deficiency

of manganese in the area. The possibility of this error was a criticism

of the use of the average composition of plants over an area to represent

optimum nutrient levels. If there was a general manganese deficiency in

the area represented by this survey, all plants sampled except those at

Vicksburg (Chart 4) should show a response to added manganese.
Determination of total exchangeable bases, as recorded in Table 5,

showed better agreement with leaf analyses. Although there was no corre-

lation between leaf and soil potassium, the correlation coefﬁcient for mag-

nesium was .645 (significant at the 5% level) and for calcium was . 593 (signi-

ficant at the 5% level). Even at these correlations it was interesting to note

that when leaf magnesium was .39 to .41 percent, the percent magnesium

saturation ranged from . 57 to 9. 28 Leaf magnesium ranged from . 31 to

. 62 percent dry weight and soil magnesium saturation ranged from . 35 to

9. 28 percent. The highest leaf values were associated with 7. 23 percent

magnesium saturation, and the lowest at . 79 percent.

47.

III

.MMM> 9 >M mouszm A383: H.520 .3 team: 82:93 682

 

 

 

 

 

m.m Mm.m MiMM no.0 04% mod o.m 3.9 S
N .m 3. .m MV .o 3. .o h .mm on .6 M .N. 00 .o 2
a M. mm .3 M .m vm .o M. .3 No .M m .m cm .6 o

w .v no .3 o .M. mm .o m .2 ac .M m .M. mm .o w

w 6 Mo .m o .m mm .o N. .8 co .M. N. .N 2 .o o

o .N. 3. .Mm w .NN MN .N. w .3 mm .ON m .m NM .M m

M .m hm .o w .n me .o M .N MN .N M .0 mm .0 1MV

w .0 no .mN N .cm N .a m .2. mo .3 N .m Mum .M m

w .0 on .MM M .o no .M a .om mm .m o 6 we .0 N

m 6 we .3 m .2 Mam. .M o .wN S .M, o .N on .o M

wooM\oE Lem ANS mooM\oE New mm wooM\oE New mm wooM\oE I
in UmMU EszocmeZ EnMonO Eammmuom oMQEmm
mMMom Mo MMMOIMQNU

oanowcmnoxm can ”In meoﬁmuamm ommm ”EdeoﬁwwMz .EsMoMmU .EstmmuonM OMQmomemnome Mmaob

m M1549.

48.

INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

Nutrient levels were found to vary during the growing season
The direction and extent of the changes were not comparable to the varia-
tions found in citrus by Reuther and Smith (1954).

Early spring appeared to be a favorable time for the sampling

of Taxus media hicksi Zinc and copper determinations were unreliable

 

and magnesium and boron levels were in a state of change in July, while
levels of other elements were fairly constant.

Although rates of application of nitrogen varied, nitrogen was
within the normal range in all plants sampled Potassium deficiency was
the only general, definite deficiency found and it was associated with a
pH of 6. 5-7. 0. Incipient deficiency of manganese and boron was associated
with the same range in pH and with heavy additions of organic matter. On
soils of lower pH (4 8-5. 5), use of potassium fertilizers had not caused
calcium or magnesium defiCiency. Phosphorous levels were below normal
on one-half of the sites investigated. Zinc levels were below normal in
all but one of the poorer groups of plants. Iron levels varied widely in both
the poorer and better plants

The prOposed standard levels of nutrients for Taxus media hicksi

 

are presented in Table 3. Because of frost damage on some sites, the stan-

dards for nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, and iron should be slightly higher.

49.

and the standards for potassium, manganese, copper, zinc, and boron
slightly lower. There were differences in normal composition between
the species media and cuspidata.

Active soil tests were not reliable for assessing the fertility
status of this crop, and were shown to lead to erroneous conclusions
on most sites. The versenate titration method for determining total ex-
changeable calcium and magnesium in the soil was quite reliable in pre-

dicting the leaf composition of those two elements.

50

SUMMARY

This investigation was designed to determine the nutrient status

of Taxus media hicksi growing at selected locations in southern Michigan.

 

Leaf analysis was employed to establish actual or incipient deficiencies
or toxicities, and to establish standard levels for each element. The
assessments of nutrient status from soil analyses were compared to those
determined from leaf analyses.

Samples were collected over the growing season at East Lansing
to establish seasonal variation in nutrient levels for these plants, and to
determine the validity of sampling in summer. Samples were collected
in July from both good and poor plants growing on six representative
sites in southern Michigan.

Leaves were analyzed for nitrogen by the K jeldahl method, for
potassium by ﬂame photometer, for phosphorous, calcium, magnesium,
iron, manganese, copper, zinc, and boron by spectrographic analysis.

Soil samples were obtained at each site and analyzed by the Spurway
method, using active soil extracts. Total exchangeable bases were deter-
mined, using a versenate titration for calcium and magnesium, and ﬂame
photometer for potassium.

Nitrogen was found to be satisfactory on all sites sampled. Phos-

phorous was found to be below normal on one-half of the sites. Potassium

51.

deficiency was found on several sites, associated with higher pH, and
the use of potassium on low pH soils had nOt caused any deficiencies
of calcium and magnesium, although levels of these two elements were
generally below normal in plants on these soils.

Early spring appeared to be the best time to sample this crop.
Copper and zinc determinations were unreliable in July. Boron and mag-
nesium levels were changing in the tissues at this time.

Soil tests in which active extracts were used did not appear to

 

be a reliable method of determining the nutrient status of Taxus. The
versenate titrations of calcium and magnesium showed a high correlation
with the levels of these two elements in the leaves.

The average composition of the better plants found in the survey
was used as the prOposed standards for the interpretation of leaf analyses

of Taxus media hicksi. Expressed as percent of dry weight, the average

 

composition was: nitrogen, 2.147; phosphorous, .487; potassium, 1.955;
calcium, .541; magnesium, .360; iron, .0117; manganese, .0241; copper,
.0012; zinc, .0029; and boron, .0056.

It was concluded that after the reliability of these proposed
standards was determined by sampling in at least two more seasons, and
the significance of departures from normal for each element was investi-

gated, leaf analysiswould provide a very useful aid in the diagnosis of

nutrient deficiencies for this crop.

52 _.

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