ZLV Online

Liming is considered a measure to support vigor of tree species in the air-polluted areas. The objective of our study is to find out if spot liming at the time of planting can influence photosynthesis and leaf chemistry 17 years after application. An experiment with artificially planted European beech was established in 1993. Samples of beech leaves were collected three times in May, June and July 2009. Analyzes used were as follows: 1) Chlorophyll a fluorescence using Imaging PAM, 2) contents of chlorophyll and carotenoids being extracted from assimilatory tissues using a spectrophotometer and 3) contents of nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S and Si) in leaves. Data were processed using T-test or one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey test. Spot-limed treatment shows difference only in mature leaves being collected in July. There was a significantly higher maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm = 0.867) in limed leaves compared to control treatment (Fv/Fm = 0.860). Contents of chlorophylls (Chla+b 2,369 µg.g-1) and carotenoids (Carx+c 590 µg.g-1) were also significantly higher in raw matter of the limed beeches compared to control treatment (Chla+b 2,268 µg.g-1; Carx+c 552 µg.g-1). Among the elements analyzed in the leaves, the only difference was found in content of phosphorus between the limed (0.15%) and control (0.13%) treatments.