Seasonal Variation in Ca, Mg, S And Na Content of Different Plant Parts in Tropical Deciduous Tree Species

Changes in the concentrations of Ca, Mg, S and Na were determined at monthly intervals in leaves, stems and roots of Chukrasia tabularis, A. Juss. (Meliaceae), Dolichandrone atrovirens (Heyne ex Roth), Sprague (Bignoniacea), Eugenia jambolana Lam. DC (Myrtacea), Gmelina arborea Roxb. (Verbenaceae), Lannea coromandellca (Houtt.) Merr. (Anacardiaceae), Terminalia arjuna (DC.) Wright & Arn. (Combretaceae), and Terminalia bellerica (Gaertn.) Roxb. (Combretaceae) for a period of one year starting from June, 1990 to May, 1991 in all seven tropical deciduous tree species. Levels of Ca, Mg, S and Na in the leaves of all the seven tree species increased slowly throughout the life span of leaves. Concentrations of Ca, Mg, S and Na of stems were high at the time of new foliage or prior to emergence of new foliage and gradually decreased towards the leaf fall or senescence in all the saplings studied. Further, the above four nutrients did not show any appreciable seasonal variation in roots. Seasonal variation was minimum in roots compared to the stems and leaves. Concentrations of Ca, Mg, S and Na varied from month to month and species to species. The results of the present study indicates the scope for screening and selecting the right type of tree species for energy plantations, which could be used as fuel wood.