Accumulation and distribution of nutrients in shoots of Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. and Vaccinium myrtillus L.

The paper presents the analysis of the macro- and microelements content in the leaves, stems and roots of Vaccinium myrtillus and Vaccinium vitis-idaea as well as in the surface genetic horizons of the soils of the Slowinski National Park (SNP). The cumulative properties and translocation coefficients were characterized as well as translocation coefficients of nutritional components in bilberry sprouts. The nitrogen was determined by Kjeldahl's method. The contents of K, Mg, Ca, Zn, Cu, Mn, and Fe by atomic absorption spectrometry after digestion in the mixture of 65% HNO3 and 30% H2O2. Organic and humus horizons of the tested soils represented the acidic reaction and diversified quantity of organic matter. The content of basic macro components in the soils of the SNP was very low. Concentration of Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe in the soils remained within the limits of geochemical background without showing any pollution with these elements. Chemical composition of bilberry sprouts was diversified depending on species, fragment of the sprout and the study plot. Nitrogen content in leaves and stems of V. myrtillus was much higher than in the case of V vitis-idaea. The roots of both species of bilberries accumulated similar quantities of N, which is indicated by the values of the bioaccumulation coefficient and the lack of statistical diversity. All analyzed macro- and microcomponents were accumulated in the highest quantity in the leaves and stems of V myrtillus, which represented, without any doubt, higher demand of this species for nutritional components. The roots of V vitis-idaea accumulated higher quantities of Mg, Ca and Zn, while the stems of bilberry accumulated twice as much manganese (1198.3 mg/kg) than the stems of cowberry (561.2 mg/kg). The test results show excessive accumulation of Mn by sprouts of V. myrtillus. In the case of the examined species, the highest mobility was characteristic for N and K (in the relationship leaves/stems) and Ca, Mg, Mn, K and Zn (in the relationship stems/roots). Fe and Cu were characterized by the lowest mobility in bilberry tissues. Significant differences in the content of N (p<0.001) and Mg (p<0.001) in leaves and stems, K (p<0.001), Cu (p<0.05) and Fe (p<0.01) in leaves, Zn (p<0.05) and Mn (p<0.001) in stems were found. Differences in accumulation of macro- and microcomponents in the roots seemed not to be significant.