Mineral nutrient concentrations in sapwood and heartwood: a literature review

Abstract

-Patterns in mineral nutrient concentrations in sapwood and heartwood are investigated from published data for N, P, K, Ca and Mg in 22 species of Gymnosperms and 71 species of Angiosperms. The average value of heartwood/sapwood concentration ratio is element-specific, increasing in the following order: P (0.36) < N (0.76) < K (0.78) < Mg (1.20) = Ca (1.25). Concentrations of P, N and K are mostly lower in heartwood compared to sapwood. Large variation exists in the concentration pattern of Ca and Mg, whose functional significance is unclear. A phylogenetic pattern is confirmed, Gymnosperms having lower mineral nutrient concentrations in wood compared to Angiosperms, most strikingly so for N, K and Mg in sapwood. Heartwood and sapwood concentrations are positively correlated across species, and species with nutrient-poor sapwood have disproportionately poorer heartwood. The results are discussed in relation to the hypothesis that mineral nutrients are recycled from senescing sapwood.

Modifying harvesting time as a tool to reduce nutrient export by timber extraction: a case study in planted teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) forests in Costa Rica

“…Several authors have studied the temporal and spatial (radial and height variation) nutrient dynamics within stem wood and have highlighted a general tendency for nutrient translocation from senescing sapwood and hardwood to active sapwood (Helmisaari & Siltala 1989, Andrews et al 1999, Laclau et al 2001, Meerts 2002, SaintAndre et al 2002. However, to our knowledge, no other study has evaluated the possibility of using this natural phenomenon to minimize nutrient removal through wood harvesting.…”

Composition, distribution and supposed origin of mineral inclusions in sessile oak wood — consequences for microdensitometrical analysis

“…This suggests a different timing of crystallization, with silica being formed some time before calcium oxalate. However, according to Meerts [15], the concentration of calcium is usually markedly lower in heartwood compared to sapwood, which would indicate a natural predominance of silica over calcium oxalate in oak heartwood. Bigger relative proportions of higher density silica could result in an overall higher detection of C-pixels in heartwood rings in X-rays.…”

“…These reference values (EDXA 1) were compared to literature data collected by Hägglund [7] and Meerts [15] for pedunculate oak (Q. robur L.) and sessile oak heartwood and sapwood ashes, as listed in Table II. The concentrations estimated by EDXA 1 are overall higher but reasonably close to these reference values, especially those of sapwood.…”

“…It is generally accepted [4,8,15] that the formation of mineral inclusions is induced or increases when the main functions of the woody tissues shift from transport and storage of water, minerals and assimilates, as in sapwood and earlywood, to mechanical support and protection against xylophagous attacks or decay by micro-organisms, as in heartwood and latewood. The accumulation of calcite in xylem vessels of diffuse-porous Populus spp., observed by Janin and Clément [10], suggests that the formation of mineral deposits is preceded by the loss of sap conducting function in vessels through cavitation.…”

Mineral content in relation to radial position, altitude, chemical properties and density of Persian ironwood

“…Mineral nutrients are limiting resources to plants and the allocation and translocation of mineral nutrients among different organs are important mechanisms enhancing nutrient use efficiency in plants (Aerts and Chapin 2000, Eckstein 1999, Nambiar and Fife 1991, Meerts 2002. In trees, wood usually has the lowest mineral nutrient concentration of all organs (Woodwell et al 1975).…”