Which Soil Properties Determine Tree Nutrient Supply in Extreme Technosol Conditions?

In recent years, there has been an increased interest in the selection of tree species for their adaptation to difficult habitat conditions in post-mining areas. As global climate change can cause changes in the circulation of elements, it is vital to understand how soil and habitat conditions affect the mineral nutritional status of trees.
The study compared the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content in the leaves of various tree species on different substrates created by mining activities. The research was carried out in stands growing on reclaimed post-mining soils composed of various parent materials, including sands, clays, and ashes. The factors influencing the N and P supply to trees in the designated parent material were investigated. The soil’s physicochemical properties were determined, and biochemical analyses were conducted. The tests performed showed that there were no differences in the N and P content in the leaves of scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), black alder (Alnus glutinosa), and common birch (Larix decidua) growing on different substrates. The results confirmed a significant relationship between the mineral nutritional status of trees and the chemical (N, Mg2+, and K+) and biological (AcdPhoSP) properties of soils. The N supply was related to the contents of nitrogen total (Ntot) and exchangeable magnesium (Mg2+) in soils and to the specific activity of acid phosphatase (AcdPhoSP). The level of phosphorus (P) supply to the studied tree species growing on technogenic soils was shown to be a factor related to the activity of acid phosphatase (AcdPhoSP).