Macro- and microelement concentrations of Finnish timothy in 1974 and 1987

Macro- and microelement concentrations of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) in 1974 and 1987 were compared. Timothy samples were collected from the same Finnish fields in 1987 as in 1974 and analyzed for seventeen elements. The biogenic element concentrations of timothy were mostly unchanged or slightly decreased. The decreases were most probably due to differences in the weather conditions between the years and in the stage of development of the plants at the time of sampling. The decrease in timothy Zn was apparently caused by the decrease in soil Zn. In 1987, the mineral nutritive value of timothy as animal feed was nearly the same as in 1974, but lower than the recommendations valid today. In both years, the concentrations of harmful elements in timothy were low. A drastic decrease in Pb from 1974 to 1987 was due to a remarkable decrease in the Pb emissions from traffic into the atmosphere. Timothy grown on fine mineral soils was rich in K, AI, Cd, Cu and Ni, while timothy from organic soils was rich in P, Mg, Fe and Mo. The only clear regional difference was in the Pb concentration; it was higher in the south than up north