Rare Earth Elements Related To Aluminum In Rhynchanthera Grandiflora Growing In Palm Swamp Communities

The relationship between rare earth elements (REE), Al and nutrients in the Al-accumulating species Rhynchanthera grandiflora was investigated. Soil, leaf and root tissues were examined in two palm swamp communities, during the rainy season, in two consecutive years having strongly contrasting precipitation. It was hypothesized that REE concentrations should be related to Al in the Al accumulator. The highest La, Ce, Sc and Y concentrations for R. grandiflora were found in the roots in the year with lower rainfall when a higher pH(H2O), a more negative Delta pH(KCl-H2O) or charge, and lower exchangeable Al3+ were observed. It is suggested that transpiration could be higher in the lower rainfall year, resulting in a higher uptake of La, Ce, Sc and Y It was concluded that the leaves and roots of R. grandiflora exhibited La enrichment in relation to Fe, mainly in the year with lower rainfall. As expected, a high correlation between La and Al was obtained in the leaves.