Dried powders of velvetbean and pine bark added to soil reduce Rhizoctonia solani-induced disease on soybean

Diseases induced by Rhizoctonia solani, like damping-off and root and stem rot on soybean (Glycine max), are a serious problem around the world. The addition of some organic material to soil is an alternative control for these diseases. In this study, benzaldehyde and dried powders of kudzu (Pueraria lobata), velvetbean or mucuna (Mucuna deeringiana), and pine bark (Pinus spp.) were used in an attempt to improve soybean plant growth and to reduce the disease R. solani (AG-4) causes on soybean. Benzaldehyde (0.1-0.4 mL/kg of soil) and velvetbean (25-100 g/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) reduced mycelial growth of R. solani in laboratory tests. In greenhouse experiments, the percentage of non-diseased plants was higher in treatments with pine bark and velvetbean (50-100 g/kg). In soil treated with kudzu (r²=0.91) or velvetbean (r²=0.94), increasing rates of these amendments tended to increase plant fresh mass. In microplot field conditions, soil amended with velvetbean (r²=0.85) and pine-bark (r²=0.61) significantly reduced disease on soybean. Numbers of Bacillus megaterium (r²=0.87) and Trichoderma hamatum (r²=0.92) and hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate (r²=0.91) were higher in soil amended with increasing rates of velvetbean, indicating an increase in microbial activity. From this study it is concluded that dried powders of velvetbean and pine bark added to soil can reduce Rhizoctonia-induced disease on soybean.

Powders of kudzu, velvetbean, and pine bark added to soil increase microbial population and reduce Southern blight of soybean

Southern blight (Sclerotium rolfsii) of soybean (Glycine max) is an important disease throughout the world. Some soil amendments can reduce disease levels by improving soil microbial activity. The main goals of this study were to investigate the effects of soil amendments such as dried powders of kudzu (Pueraria lobata), velvetbean (Mucuna deeringiana), and pine bark (Pinus taeda), on soil microbial population and disease caused by S. rolfsii on soybean. Pine bark, velvetbean (mucuna) and kudzu (25 g kg-1) added to soil were effective in reducing disease incidence [non-amended (NA) ~ 39%; amended (A) ~ 2 to 11%)]. Bacillus megaterium was the bacteria most frequently isolated in soils with velvetbean or kudzu (NA ~ log 5.7 CFU g-1 of dried soil; A ~ log 6.2). Soils with velvetbean and kudzu stimulated increase in population of Enterobacter aerogenes (NA ~ log 3; A ~ log 5.1-5.8). Pseudomonas putida population was higher in A than in NA (NA ~ log 4; A ~ log 5.5), and was negatively correlated (r = -0.83, P = 1%) to disease incidence. Soil amended with kudzu and pine bark stimulated increases in populations of Trichoderma koningii (NA ~ log 1.6; A ~ log 2.9) and Penicillium citreonigrum (NA ~ log 1.3; A ~ log 2.6), respectively. Penicillium herquei soil population increased with addition of kudzu (NA ~ log 1.2; A, ~ log 2.5). These microorganisms are antagonists of soil-borne pathogens. Powders of velvetbean, kudzu, and pine bark can increase antagonistic population in soil and reduce disease.

The effects of tannin-containing ground pine bark diet upon nutrient digestion, nitrogen balance, and mineral retention in meat goats

Background Pine bark is a rich source of phytochemical compounds including tannins, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, and fatty acids. These phytochemicals have potential to significantly impact on animal health and animal production. The goal of this work is to measure the effects of tannins in ground pine bark as a partial feed replacement on feed intake, dietary apparent digestibility, nitrogen balance, and mineral retention in meat goats. Results Eighteen Kiko cross goats (initial BW = 31.8 ± 1.49 kg) were randomly assigned to three treatment groups (n = 6). Dietary treatments were tested: control (0 % pine bark powder (PB) and 30 % wheat straw (WS)); 15 % PB and 15 % WS, and 30 % PB and 0 % WS. Although dry matter (DM) intake and digestibility were not affected (P > 0.10) by feeding PB, neutral detergent fiber (linear; P = 0.01), acid detergent fiber (linear; P = 0.001) and lignin digestibility (linear; P = 0.01) decreased, and crude protein (CP) digestibility tended to decrease (P = 0.09) as PB increased in the diet, apparent retention of Ca (P = 0.09), P (P = 0.03), Mg (P = 0.01), Mn (P = 0.01), Zn (P = 0.01) and Fe (P = 0.09) also increased linearly. Nitrogen intake and fecal N excretion were not affected (P > 0.05) by addition of PB in the diet, but N balance in the body was quadratically increased (P < 0.01) in the 15 % PB diet compared to other diets. This may be due to more rumen escape protein and less excreted N in the urine with the 15 % PB diet. The study showed that a moderate level of tannin-containing pine bark supplementation could improve gastrointestinal nitrogen balance with the aim of improving animal performance. Conclusion These results suggest that tannin-containing PB has negative impact on fiber, lignin, and protein digestibility, but positively impacted on N-balance.

Effects of sheep and horse manure and pine bark amendments on metal distribution and chemical properties of contaminated mine soils.

Mine soils usually contain large levels of heavy metals and poor fertility conditions which limit their reclamation and the application of phyto-remediation technologies. Two organic waste materials (pine bark compost and sheep and horse manure compost), with different pHs and varying degrees of humification and nutrient contents, were applied as amendments to assess their effects on copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) bioavailability and on fertility conditions of mine soils. Soil samples collected from two abandoned mining areas near Madrid (Spain) were mixed with 0, 30 and 60 t ha?1 of the organic amendments. The concentrations of metals among the different mineral and organic fractions of soil were determined by several extraction procedures to study the metal distribution in the solid phase of the soil affected by the organic amendments. The results showed that the manure amendment increased the soil pH and the cation exchange capacity and enhanced the nutrient levels of these soils. The pine bark amendment decreased the soil pH and did not significantly change the nutrient status of soil. Soil pH, organic matter content and its degree of humification, which were altered by the amendments, were the main factors affecting Cu fractionation. Zn fractionation was mainly affected by soil pH. The addition of manure not only improved soil fertility, but also decreased metal bioavailability resulting in a reduction of metal toxicity. Conversely, pine bark amendment increased metal ioavailability. The use of sheep and horse manure could be a cost-effective practice for the restoration of contaminated mine soils.

Physical characterization of growing media using standard methods (CEN)- Limitations of Applicability for pine bark and vermiculite

CEN standards have helped to harmonize analytical methods for substrate analysis.Though, for special substrates or constituents the applicability might be Iimited. In this paper a comparative study of implementation of CEN standards to samples of pine bark and vermiculite has been carried out. For composted pine bark, an elongation of the equilibrium period up to 72 instead of 48 hours might increase the accuracy of determinations physical parameters according to EN 13041. For vermiculite, we suggest pycnometry as a feasible technique for the determination of particle density (PD), as the determination of organic matter (OM) as requested by EN 13041 for the calculation of the PD seems not to be applicable for this kind of material.

De novo biosynthesis of the aggregation pheromone components ipsenol and ipsdienol by the pine bark beetles Ips paraconfusus Lanier and Ips pini (Say) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae).

The California five-spined ips, Ips paraconfusus Lanier, produces the myrcene-derived acyclic monoterpene alcohols ipsenol (2-methyl-6-methylene-7-octen-4-ol) and ipsdienol (2-methyl-6-methylene-2,7-octadien-4-ol) as components of its aggregation pheromone. The pine engraver beetle, Ips pini (Say), produces only ipsdienol. Previous studies have shown that myrcene, a monoterpene in the pines colonized by these beetles, is a direct precursor to these pheromone components. In vivo radiolabeling studies reported here showed that male I. paraconfusus incorporated [1-14C]acetate into ipsenol, ipsdienol, and amitinol (trans-2-methyl-6-methylene-3,7-octadien-2-ol), while male I. pini incorporated [1-14C]acetate into ipsdienol and amitinol. Females of these species produced neither labeled nor unlabeled pheromone components. The purified radiolabeled monoterpene alcohols from-males were identified by comparison of their HPLC and GC retention times with those of unlabeled standards. HPLC-purified fractions containing the individual radiolabeled components were analyzed by GC-MS and were shown to include only the pure alcohols. To further confirm that ipsdienol and ipsenol were radiolabeled, diastereomeric ester derivatives of the isolated alcohols were synthesized and analyzed by HPLC and GC-MS. After derivatization of the radiolabeled alcohols, the HPLC analysis demonstrated expected shifts in retention times with conservation of naturally occurring stereochemistry. The results provide direct evidence for de novo biosynthesis of ipsenol, ipsdienol, and amitinol by bark beetles.

Distinguishing immatures of insect associates of southern pine bark beetles /

Cover title.

Quantitative elemental analysis of dry-ashed bark and wood samples of birch, spruce and pine from south-western Finland using PIXE

A total of over 200 different samples of bark and wood of Silver birch, Norway spruce and Scots pine were analysed. Samples were taken from several areas in western Finland, some with known sources of atmospheric heavy metal emission (Harjavalta, Ykspihlaja). Also analytical data for pine needles from some sites are reported. The chemical analyses were performed by thick-target particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) spectrometry after preconcentration by dry ashing of samples at 550oC. The following elements were quantified in most of the samples: P, S, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Cd, Ba and Pb. The ash percentage and the chemical composition of ashes of different wood materials were also obtained, as dry ashing was used in the analytical procedure. The variations in elemental concentrations in wood and bark of an individual tree, expressed as RSDs, were mostly in the range 10 – 20 %. For several trees of the same species sampled from small areas (< 1 ha), the variations in elemental concentrations were surprisingly high (RSDs 20 – 50 %). In the vicinity of metal plants, effects of strong atmospheric heavy metal pollution (pollution factor above 100) were observed in pine bark. The increase of heavy metal content in wood samples from the same sites was quite small. Elemental concentrations in ashes of bark and wood, from areas with no local source of atmospheric pollution, were relatively uniform. Based on this observation an alternative way of demonstrating atmospheric pollution of tree bark is discussed.

Adsorption characteristics of carbonized bark for phenol and pentachlorophenol

The potential of using carbonized slash pine bark as a substitute for activated carbon was examined in this study. The bark was carbonized by slow heating in nitrogen for 6.5 h to 672 degrees C. The BET-N-2 surface area, average micropore and mesopore diameter, and micropore volume were 332 m(2) g(-1) 21.7 Angstrom, and 0.125 cm(3) g(-1), respectively. The adsorption capacities for phenol and pentachlorophenol (PCP) at pH 2 and pH 8 were evaluated. The Langmuir equation provided a slightly better fit than the Freundlich equation to two sets of phenol data. The calculated Freundlich constants, K = 0.41 - 0.58 mmol/g/(mmol dm(-3))(1/n) and 1/n = 0.30 - 0.41, were lower and higher, respectively, than literature values for activated carbons. The adsorption capacity of the carbonized bark was much lower for PCP than for phenol. The protonated and anionic PCP isotherms were Type II or III, respectively, in the Brunauer classification. The BET equation provided the best fit to protonated PCP isotherm data. The anionic PCP data were fitted to both the BET model and an equation used in the literature to represent phosphate adsorption on activated carbons. Nonlinear regression of the data for both phenol and PCP adsorption with the Freundlich, Langmuir and BET equations generally gave more accurate parameters, compared with the use of linearized equations to obtain the parameters. (C) 1998 SCI.

Chemical and physical properties of organic residues

Due to human activity, large amounts of organic residue are generated daily. Therefore, an adequate use in agricultural activities requires the characterization of the main properties. The chemical and physical characterization is important when planning the use and management of organic residue. In this study, chemical and physical properties of charcoal, coffee husk, pine-bark, cattle manure, chicken manure, coconut fiber, sewage sludge, peat, and vermiculite were determined. The following properties were analyzed: N-NH4+, N-N0(3)-, and total concentrations of N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Zn, Cu, and B, as well as pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC) and bulk density. Coffee husk, sewage sludge, chicken manure and cattle manure were generally richer in nutrients. The EC values of these residues were also the highest (0.08 - 40.6 dS m-1). Peat and sewage sludge had the highest bulky density. Sodium contents varied from 0 to 4.75 g kg-1, with the highest levels in chicken manure, cattle manure and sewage sludge. Great care must be taken when establishing proportions of organic residues in the production of substrates with coffee husk, cattle or chicken manure or sewage sludge in the calculation of the applied fertilizer quantity in crop fertilization programs.

Ekologisen kuorilevyn valmistaminen puunjalostusteollisuuden sivutuotteista

Puunjalostusteollisuudessa syntyy huomattavia määriä sivutuotteita, joiden hyödyntäminen on vielä vajavaista. Sahajauhon ja puukuoren pääasiallinen käyttö rajoittuu energiantuotantoon eli polttamiseen voimalaitoksissa. Selostettavassa tutkimustyössä, joka on tehty Lappeenrannan teknillisen yliopiston puunjalostustekniikan levylaboratoriossa, on pyritty selvittämään kotimaisten kuusi-, mänty- ja koivukuorten käyttömahdollisuuksia raaka-aineina lastulevyn tapaan ns. ekologisen kuorilevyn valmistamisessa, mutta ilman liimaa. Tutkimusmateriaalina käytettiin puunjalostusteollisuudesta hankittua tuoretta kuusen ja männyn rumpukuorintajätettä sekä koivun roottorikuorintajätettä, joista kukin raaka-aine pienennettiin kahteen eri partikkelikokoon käyttäen oksasilppuria ja vasaramyllyä. Raaka-ainemäärät mitattiin ja kaadettiin viiran päällä olevaan puusta valmistettuun muottiin ja muotin poisnostamisen jälkeen levyaihio puristettiin 1-välikuumapuristimessa sykleittäin. Valmistetut kuorilevyt olivat 1 -kerroksisia. Koelevyistä tutkittiin kosteuspitoisuus, tilavuuspaino, taivutuslujuus ja Brinell -kovuus.Saadut tulokset osoittavat, että kuusen, männyn ja koivun kuoresta voidaan valmistaa kuorilevyä ilman liima-ainetta, sillä puukuoren sisältämät omat liimaavuutta parantavat uuteaineet antavat riittävän vaikutuksen kuorilevyn rakenteen stabiloimiseksi. Tällaisen kuorilevyn taivutuslujuus on kuitenkin huomattavasti heikompi kuin puulastulevyllä. Kaikki jauhetusta raaka-aineesta sekä pelkästään silputusta koivuraaka-aineesta valmistetut kuorilevyt täyttävät taivutuslujuuden osalta kuitenkin huokoiselle, A-lujuusluokan standardi-kuitulevylle asetetut vaatimukset. Tarkasteltaessa eri raaka-aineista valmistettujen levyjen ominaisuuksia, voidaan todeta, että tilavuuspainoltaan suurinta sekä kovuudeltaan ja taivutuslujuudeltaan parasta levyä saadaan valmistettua jauhetusta koivukuoresta. Jokaisen valmistetun kuorilevyn kovuusarvo ylittää Suomen johtavan lastulevyn valmistajan lastulevyn kovuusarvon lukuun ottamatta pelkästään silputuista kuusi- ja mäntykuorista valmistettuja levyjä.Vaikka tulokset ovat suuntaa-antavia, osoittavat ne selvästi millaisia mahdollisuuksia tarjoaa puun kuoren tai sahajauhon käyttäminen lastulevyn tapaan valmistettavien levyjen raaka-aineena. Koko tutkimuskenttä on tässä käsiteltävänä olevalla alueella varsin laaja, ja tässä tutkimuksessa selvitetyt asiat ovat siitä vain pieni osa antaen kuitenkin suunnan useille tärkeille jatkossa selvitettäville asioille. Näistä mainittakoon mm. ekologisen levyn jatkojalostus ja tuotesuunnittelu, levyn valmistuksen taloudellisuus ja tuotteiden markkinointi, kuorilevyn valmistusprosessin kehittäminen sekä eri raaka-aineyhdistelmien kokeilu kuorilevyn raaka-aineena.

Pellettien laatu ja ominaisuudet eri raaka-aineilla ja niiden seoksilla

Diplomityö tehtiin osana Vapon toteuttamaa monivuotista pelletin kehitysohjelmaa. Kehitysohjelma koostuu useista pienemmistä osaprojekteista, jotka täydentävät toinen toisiaan. Pellettien raaka-ainepohjan laajentaminen on eräs näistä osaprojekteista. Tutkimustyön tavoitteena oli selvittää erilaisten potentiaalisten bioraaka-aineiden soveltuvuutta pelletointiin joko sellaisenaan tai erilaisina seoksina. Raaka-aineiden pelletoitavuutta tutkittiin kenttäolosuhteissa mobiilipelletointilaitoksella. Laitoksen pääkomponentit muodostivat Kahl C 38–780 tasomatriisipuristin, jäähdytin ja täryseula. Pelletointikokeissa tutkittuja raaka-aineita olivat mäntysahanpuru, männynkuori, harvennusranka, haapa, koivu, jyrsinturve ja ruokohelpi. Raaka-aineiden irtotiheys käyttökosteudessa vaihteli välillä 73–244 kg/m3 ja keskimääräinen kosteuspitoisuus 6,5–15 %. Useissa tapauksissa säkitettyjä raaka-aineita säkkikostutettiin haluttuun kosteuspitoisuuteen ennen pelletointia. Säkkikostutettujen raaka-aineiden kosteuspitoisuudet vaihtelivat tällöin välillä 12–14 m- %. Valtaosa tutkituista raaka-aineista ja niiden seoksista pystyttiin pelletoimaan puristimen matriisilla 8/40 mm, jossa puristuskanavan halkaisija oli 8 mm ja kanavan suoran osan pituus 40 mm. Vaikeuksia tuotti ainoastaan pelkän koivupurun ja ruokohelven pelletointi. Käytetty matriisi oli kanavapituudeltaan liian pitkä koivupurun pelletointiin nostaen puristusvastuksen suureksi. Ruokohelven pelletoinnin vaikeudet johtuivat pääasiassa pelletointiin liian karkeasta raaka-aineesta. Myös matriisia 8/55 mm kokeiltiin, mutta se osoittautui liian ”tiukaksi” valtaosalle puuraaka-aineista. Ainoastaan jyrsinturpeen pelletointi onnistui tällä matriisilla. Männynkuoren pelletointia ei matriisilla 8/55 mm yritetty. Kenttäkokeissa valmistetuista pelleteistä määritettiin erilaisia ominaisuuksia, kuten keskipituus, kosteuspitoisuus, irtotiheys, hienoaineksen määrä ja käsittelykestävyys. Lujuus mitattiin sekä Ligno-testillä että CEN-rummutuslujuuden määrityksellä. Lisäksi pelleteille määritettiin alkuaineanalyysi, tuhkapitoisuus ja lämpöarvo ENAS Oy:n laboratoriossa Jyväskylässä. Ligno-testauksessa parhaimman luokan pelletin tulee yltää arvoon 97,5 %. Pelletoitaessa raaka-aineita ja niiden seoksia tasomatriisikoneella sopivalla matriisilla yllettiin usein näihin tai parempiin tuloksiin. Puumateriaaleilla raaka-aineen optimaalinen lähtökosteus oli välillä 12–14 m- % ja turpeella sekä ruokohelvellä 14–16 m- %. Pelletointi onnistui tällöin vaivattomasti, kunhan sopivat puristimen ajoparametrit oli löydetty. Pellettiä alkoi muodostua matriisin puristuskanavien lämpötilan kohotessa noin 70 ºC. Pellettien lämpötila stabiilitilanteessa heti pelletoinnin jälkeen oli useissa tapauksissa 80–90 ºC. Pelletoinnin aikainen tehontarve vaihteli välillä 90–150 kWh/t, ollen suurimmillaan irtotiheydeltään keveillä materiaaleilla. Raaka-aineen suuri partikkelikoko kasvatti puristimen tehontarvetta. Tämä havaittiin selvästi lisättäessä karkeaa ruokohelpisilppua eri raaka-aineiden joukkoon. Kestävyydeltään erinomaisia pellettejä saatiin, kun raaka-aineena oli jyrsinturve, harvennusranka tai mäntypuru. Varsinkin jyrsinturpeen ja harvennusrangan seoksesta valmistetut pelletit osoittautuivat erittäin kestäviksi. Myös jyrsinturpeen ja ruokohelven sekä mäntypurun ja ruokohelven seoksien pelleteille määritettiin hyviä kestävyysarvoja. Männynkuoresta valmistetut pelletit jäivät Ligno-testauksessa kestävyydeltään alle 97,5 % rajan. Pääsyynä tähän oli kuoren pelletointiin käytetyn matriisin 8/40 mm liian lyhyet puristuskanavat.

Ácidos orgânicos de baixa massa molar em solos e materiais orgânicos

Determination of organic acids in soils and organic materials is important due to the important role they play in improving the soil's physical, chemical and microbiological conditions. This study identified and quantified low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOA) in soils (dystroferric Red Latosol, dystrophic Red-Yellow Latosol and Quartzarenic Neosol) and organic materials (cow, pig, chicken, quail and horse manures, sawdust, coconut fiber, pine bark, coffee husks, biochar, organic substrate, sewage sludges 1 and 2, garbage compost, pig slurry compost). The following acids were identified: acetic, citric, D-malic, formic, fumaric, maleic, malonic, oxalic, quinic, shikimic, succinic and tartaric.

Effect of organic amendments on sclerotial germination, mycelial growth, and Sclerotium rolfsii-induced diseases

The addition of organic residues to soil is an option to control some soil-borne diseases. Benzaldehyde and powders of kudzu (Pueraria lobata), velvetbean (Mucuna deeringiana), and pine-bark (Pinus elliottii and P. taeda) added to soil could reduce certain soil-borne diseases. This study evaluated the effects of benzaldehyde and the dried powders of kudzu, velvetbean, and pine-bark as soil amendments on germination and formation of sclerotia, on mycelial growth of Sclerotium rolfsii, on plant survival, and disease incidence. The data showed that high amounts of benzaldehyde (0.4 ml kg-1 of soil) and velvetbean (100 g kg-1) inhibited S. rolfsii mycelial growth and sclerotium germination. However, low amounts of benzaldehyde (0.1 ml kg-1), kudzu (25 g kg-1), and pine-bark (25 g kg-1) stimulated mycelial growth and sclerotium germination. Kudzu (25-100 g kg-1) and velvetbean (25-100 g kg-1) inhibited the formation of sclerotia. Nevertheless, benzaldehyde at 0.2 and 0.4 ml kg-1 stimulated the formation of sclerotia. Kudzu (50 and 100 g kg-1) and pine-bark (50 g kg-1) favored the colonization of sclerotia by Trichoderma sp. The numbers of soybean (Glycine max) plants were higher and diseased plants were lower than the non-amend soil in the following treatments: kudzu (50 and 100 g kg-1), velvetbean (50 and 100 g kg-1), and pine-bark (50 g kg-1). Disease severity on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) plants was low in soil treated with kudzu or velvetbean (30 and 35 g kg-1) and pine-bark (35 g kg-1). Dried powders of kudzu, velvetbean, or pine-bark added to soil can reduce disease by reducing pathogen inoculum.

Elemental analysis of wood materials by external millibeam thick target PIXE

PIXE (Particle Induce X-ray Emission spectrometry) was used for analysing stem bark and stem wood of Scots pine, Norway spruce and Silver birch. Thick samples were irradiated, in laboratory atmosphere, with 3 MeV protons and the beam current was measured indirectly using a photo multiplicator (PM) tube. Both point scans and bulk analyses were performed with the 1 mm diameter proton beam. In bulk analyses, whole bark and sectors of discs of the stem wood were dry ashed at 550 ˚C. The ashes were homogenised by shaking and prepared to target pellets for PIXE analyses. This procedure generated representative samples to be analysed, but the enrichment also enabled quantification of some additional trace elements. The ash contents obtained as a product of the sample preparation procedure also showed to be of great importance in the evaluation of results in environmental studies. Spot scans from the pith of pine wood outwards, showed clearly highest concentrations of manganese, calcium and zinc in the first spot irradiated, or 2-3 times higher than in the surrounding wood. For stem wood from the crown part of a pine this higher concentration level was found in the first four spots/mms, including the pith and the two following growth rings. Zinc showed increasing concentrations outwards in sapwood of the pine stem, with the over-all lowest concentrations in the inner half of the sapwood. This could indicate emigration of this element from sapwood being under transformation to heartwood. Point scans across sapwood of pine and spruce showed more distinct variations in concentrations relative to hearth wood. Higher concentrations of e.g. zinc, calcium and manganese were found in earlywood than in denser latewood. Very high concentrations of iron and copper were also seen for some earlywood increments. The ash content of stem bark is up to and order higher than for the stem wood. However, when the elemental concentration in ashes of bark and wood of the same disc were compared, these are very similar – this when trees are growing at spots with no anthropogenic contamination from the atmosphere. The largest difference was obtained for calcium which appeared at two times high concentrations in ashes of bark than in ashes of the wood (ratio of 2). Pine bark is often used in monitoring of atmospheric pollution, where concentrations in bark samples are compared. Here an alternative approach is suggested: Bark and the underlying stem wood of a pine trees are dry ashed and analysed. The elemental concentration in the bark ash is then compared to the concentration of the same element in the wood ash. Comparing bark to wood includes a normalisation for the varying availability of an element from the soil at different sites. When this comparison is done for the ashes of the materials, a normalisation is also obtained for the general and locally different enrichment of inorganic elements from wood to bark. Already a ratio >2 between the concentration in the bark ash and the concentration in the wood ash could indicate atmospheric pollution. For monitoring where bark is used, this way of “inwards” comparison is suggested - instead of comparing to results from analyses of bark from other trees (read reference areas), growing at sites with different soil and, locally, different climate conditions. This approach also enables evaluation of atmospheric pollution from sampling of only relative few individual trees –preferable during forest felling.