New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts
Cobalt and nickel accumulation in Nyssa (tupelo) species and its
significance for New Zealand agriculture
B. H. ROBINSON
The Horticultural and Food Research Institute
of NZ Ltd
Private Bag 11030
Palmerston, North, New Zealand
R. R. BROOKS
M. J. HEDLEY*
Soil and Earth Sciences
Institute of Natural Resources
Massey University
Private Bag 11222
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Abstract Ninety-seven leaf samples taken from three
cobalt-accumulating species of Nyssa (tupelo) growing at various
localities in New Zealand were analysed for Co and Ni to examine the range of
Co and Ni concentrations found in New Zealand specimens, as well as to
determine whether their Co content was a measure of the Co status of the soils.
A further aim was to establish whether leaves could be used as a feed
supplement to sheep and cattle in order to avoid Co deficiency in farm animals.
Maximum Co and Ni concentrations were 95 and 32 ug g-1 (dry mass) in
leaves of N. sylvatica with geometric means of 7.1 and 4.0 ug
g-1, respectively. Comparable values were obtained for N.
aquatica and N. sinensis. Bioaccumulation coefficients (BAC, i.e.,
plant/soil Co or Ni quotients) were 4-6 times higher for Co than for Ni and
showed a disproportionately high uptake of Co compared with Ni. BAC values
increased exponentially with decreasing Co concentrations in the soil, thus
highlighting the possibility of using Nyssa to recover Co from soils
impoverished in this element. It was calculated that leaf fall from three
Nyssa trees, when used as a feed supplement, may provide sufficient Co
to alleviate Co deficiency for up to 10 sheep, though this procedure will
require further study before being recommended unequivocally.
Keywords Nyssa sylvatica; Nyssa aquatica;
Nyssa sinensis; cobalt; nickel
New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 1999, Vol. 42: 235-240
0028-8233/99/4203-0235 $7.00/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand
1999
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (441K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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