Variations of Macro and Micro Nutrient Concentration in Soil and Leaf of Alnus subcordata (L.) ‎Seedlings under Flooding Stress

Changes in flooding regime have resulted in widespread declines in ecosystem functioning Flooding affects soils by altering soil structure, depleting O2, accumulating CO2, inducing anaerobic condition in soil, development of root rot, loss of mycorrhizae, and reductions in root metabolism, leads anaerobic decomposition of organic matter, and changing macro and micro elements of soil and leaf. In this experiment, the variations of macro and micro nutrient concentration in soil and leaf of Alnus subcordata (L.) seedlings under soil flooding stress were investigated during a 120-day outdoor experiment. Seedlings were subjected to three fixed treatments: 1) unflooded; 2) flooded to 3 cm depth and 3) flooded to 15 cm depth and their macro and micro nutrient concentration in leaf and soil were measured at the end of the experiment. Results indicated flooding had no effect on the concentration of Mg, Ca, Zn and organic C soil, while the concentration of P, N and K decreased and the concentration of Fe and Mn increased in the soil by flooding, although did not result in toxicity of elements of soil. In leaves of flooded seedlings, the concentrations of N, P, K, Zn, Ca, Mg and organic C decreased, but the concentrations of Mn and Fe increased to a detrimental level. In addition, there was a significant positive correlation between most of elements in soil and leaf. Generally, the results indicated that flooding changed the concentration of much elements in leaf and soil seedlings of A. subcordata that it is a current phenomenon in anaerobic condition of soil caused by flooding.