Baseline mineral analysis of leaves from populations of two native plant species from geothermal areas of Imperial Valley, California
Leaf samples of Larrea tridentata (Sesse and Moc. ex DC) Cov. (n = 230) and of Plantago insularis Eastw. var. fastigiata (n = 179) were analyzed for mineral elements by emission spectroscopy. The study was part of a program to evauate baseline conditions near a geothermal area being developed for generation of electricity. Analyses varied between species, among locations, and within locations. As a general average, about a fifth of the variability was due to analytical error, which is largely the result of nonhomogenous samples. Cluster analysis grouped the so-called dust elements iron, silicon, aluminum, titanium, and sometimes vanadium. Correlations of interest were Ca versus Sr(+), K versus Na and Li(-), and P versus K(+). Frequency distribution histograms, skewness, and kurtosis calculations indicated some normal curves and possibly some log normal curves. Three- to fivefold ranges in concentrations of different elements were observed, even in populations defined as uniform by Duncan's multiple range test.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Caifornia, Los Angeles
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-76SF00012
- OSTI ID:
- 5868366
- Journal Information:
- Soil Sci.; (United States), Vol. 134:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
IMPERIAL VALLEY
BASELINE ECOLOGY
LEAVES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
ALUMINIUM
CALCIUM
CONCENTRATION RATIO
ELEMENTS
EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY
EVALUATION
FREQUENCY MEASUREMENT
GEOTHERMAL FIELDS
IRON
LITHIUM
PHOSPHORUS
PLANTS
POTASSIUM
SILICON
SODIUM
STRONTIUM
TITANIUM
VANADIUM
VARIATIONS
ALKALI METALS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
CALIFORNIA
ECOLOGY
FEDERAL REGION IX
METALS
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
SEMIMETALS
SPECTROSCOPY
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
150600* - Geothermal Energy- Environmental Aspects
510500 - Environment
Terrestrial- Site Resource & Use Studies- (-1989)