US EPA

765528 

Journal Article 

Chemical composition of throughfall and stemflow from citrus canopies 

Li, YC; Alva, AK; Calvert, DV; Zhang, M 

1997 

Yes 

Journal of Plant Nutrition
ISSN: 0190-4167
EISSN: 1532-4087 

20 

10 

1351-1360 

10.1080/01904169709365339 

WOS:A1997XX32800008 

http://tandfprod.literatumonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01904169709365339
Exit
 

The main objective of this study was to examine the chemical composition of incident rainfall, throughfall, and stemflow from canopies of 'Marsh' grapefruit, and 'Hamlin' and 'Temple' orange trees. The concentrations of ammonium (NH4) and nitrate (NO3) were lower in the throughfall under the canopy or along the dripline as compared to those in the incident rainfall. This reduction is due to absorption of those nitrogen (N) forms by the tree foliage, thus, provides an evidence of contribution of (N) through wet deposition to N requirement of the trees. In contrast, concentrations of potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and chloride (Cl) were greater in the throughfall or along the dripline compared to those in the incident rainfall. This is due to possible leaching of those elements from the foliage by the rainwater. Stemflow and throughfall also had greater pH and electrical conductivity (only in two out of three citrus varieties) as compared to the incident rainfall. Good correlation were found between concentrations of either K, Mg, or Ca, and Cl, phosphorus (P), or sulfur (S) in the incident rainfall for two storm events.