Mineral macronutrients in beech canopy foliage in a stand with different densities

this paper we evaluate the influence of stand structure on Ca, Mg, K and Na content in beech foliage. The research was conducted on an eco-series of experimental plots with various densities at the Beech Ecological Experimental Station. The plots resulted after shelterwood cutting of various intensities and their final densities were as follows: 30% (intense cutting), 50% (medium intense cutting), 70% (low intense cutting) and 90% (original stand density at the site). We have found that the highest nutrient concentrations were in general in subdominant trees. By analogy, the highest nutrient concentrations were in the assimilatory organs in the lower crown-thirds of beech trees (in the case of calcium up to 20%). On the other hand, the calcium content in beech leaves regularly increased with decreasing stand density. This was not true for Mg, K and Na where we observed the optimum nutrient uptake at a stand density of 70%.