Articles by Heljä-Sisko Helmisaari

Spatial and age-related variation in nutrient concentrations of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) needles was studied during 1984–86 in three stands of different stages of development. The dry weight of current needles was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the tree top than in a composite sample representing the whole crown. However, there were no significant differences in the concentrations of nutrients in needles between upper and lower crown levels. The concentrations of mobile nutrients N, P, K and Mg decreased with increasing needle age whereas the concentrations of poorly mobile nutrients Ca, Mn and Fe increased during needle ageing. The coefficient of variation for nutrient concentrations varied irregularly when only a few trees were sampled but stabilized when tree number was ten or more.
The PDF includes an abstract in Finnish.

• Helmisaari, E-mail: hh@mm.unknown

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of leaching of heavy metals (Cr, As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Co, Mo) and earth-alkaline metal, barium (Ba), on the percolation and ditch water quality from the forest roads that contained ash in the road structures. Water quality was studied in the immediate vicinity below the ash layers as well as deeper in the road structure. Water quality was also determined in the drainage water in ditches that crossed the forest roads. A mixture of wood and peat based fly ash was used in the road structures. The treatments were: 1) no ash, 2) a 15 cm layer of ash/gravel mixture, 3) a 20 cm layer of ash/gravel mixture, 4) a 25 cm layer of ash, and 5) a 50 cm layer of ash. Large variation in the concentrations of Cr, As, Cu, Ni, Pb, Mo and Ba in the percolation water, even within the same treatment, caused difficulties to generalize the results. The concentrations of Cr, As, Ni, Pb, Mo and Ba in water samples were high in some treatment plot lysimeters containing ash compared to the control (no ash). On the other hand, many lysimeters had low and similar concentrations in water samples in the treatment plots containing ash compared to concentrations in the control plots. The ash in the roads did not affect the concentrations in the ditches. The leaching is uneven and seems to take place only from some parts of the ash layer. Risk for leaching is minimal if such parts are not widely spread.

• Lindroos, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland E-mail: antti.lindroos@luke.fi
• Ryhti, University of Helsinki, Department of Forest Sciences, P.O. Box 27, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland E-mail: kira.ryhti@helsinki.fi
• Kaakkurivaara, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland E-mail: tomi.kaakkurivaara@gmail.com
• Uusitalo, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Korkeakoulunkatu 7, FI-33720 Tampere, Finland E-mail: jori.uusitalo@luke.fi
• Helmisaari, University of Helsinki, Department of Forest Sciences, P.O. Box 27, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland E-mail: helja-sisko.helmisaari@helsinki.fi

• Palomäki, University of Kuopio, Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, P.O.Box 1627, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland E-mail: virpi.palomaki@uku.fi
• Hassinen, Mekrijärvi Research Station, FIN-82900 Ilomantsi, Finland E-mail: ah@nn.fi
• Lemettinen, Mekrijärvi Research Station, FIN-82900 Ilomantsi, Finland E-mail: ml@nn.fi
• Oksanen, University of Kuopio, Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, P.O.Box 1627, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland E-mail: to@nn.fi
• Helmisaari, Finnish Forest Research Institute, Department of Forest Ecology, P.O.Box 18, FIN-01301 Vantaa, Finland E-mail: hsh@nn.fi
• Holopainen, Agricultural Research Centre, FIN-31600 Jokioinen, Finland E-mail: jh@nn.fi
• Kellomäki, University of Joensuu, Faculty of Forestry, P.O.Box 111, FIN-80101 Joensuu, Finland E-mail: sk@nn.fi
• Holopainen, University of Kuopio, Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, P.O.Box 1627, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland E-mail: th@nn.fi