The use of activation analysis for determination of nutritional balance of declining Pinus halepensis trees in Shaar-Hagai forest

A comprehensive multidisciplinary investigation of the reasons for the decline of Pinus halepensis forests in the Judea mountains in Israel was carried out recently. Mineral content of the pine needles was determined using atomic absorption and neutron activation techniques. A good correlation between these two techniques was obtained. It was found that neutron activation is a very suitable technique for simultaneous determination of numerous elements in biological matter, whenever the facilities of research reactor are available. Manganese content of sick needles was found to be two to three times higher than that of healthy ones, pointing out a possible role of the manganese in the decline of the Pinus halepensis forest.