LAUSR

ABSTRACT The foliar status and the factors affecting the foliar chemistry in a natural Aleppo pine forest grown on calcareous soils in Greece were examined. It was found that the Aleppo pine needles had significantly higher calcium (Ca) concentrations, but significantly lower concentrations of magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) than the respective average concentrations of natural Aleppo pine forests in Spain. It was also found that only foliar Ca and Mn had a significant correlation with the exchangeable Ca and available Mn in soils, respectively. Principal component analysis showed that the nature of the calcareous parent material, (colluvial rocks and hard limestones) were the main factors affecting both foliar and soil chemistry. This finding is important as colluvial soils always coexist with other soil types in hilly and mountainous regions containing calcareous material.