As noted for soil chemical characteristics, specific information is not available for desirable levels of foliar nutrients in trees for the Canaan Valley source of balsam fir. However, average levels for the major nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) shown in Table 1 are generally within the "adequate" range reported for Fraser fir (A. balsamea var. fraseri) (Huckins, 1996) and a northern source of balsam fir (A. balsamea var. balsamea) (McEvoy, 1992). However, there was a wide range in levels for trees on individual plots, with values ranging from well below to well above acceptable levels. For the micronutrients, average levels for all elements except copper were generally within the "adequate" level for Fraser fir (no data for balsam fir), with the range from well below to well above the "adequate" level (Table 1).
As shown in Table 2, there were positive, statistically significant correlations between foliar nitrogen levels and total height and all needle characteristics of trees. There were also significant relationships between foliar potassium levels and all tree characteristics which is of interest because no correlations were noted for soil potassium levels. None of the tree variables were significantly related to phosphorus levels, while there were significant relationships of calcium levels with total height, needle retention, needle length, and foliage weight.