Selection of biological and chemical parameters indicating or affecting the vitality of Norway spruce

Abstract Thirty-two young and old Norway spruce trees ( Picea abies (L.) Karst.) showing different degrees of damage were investigated in a forest stand in the Taunus Mountains (FRG). The old trees showed visual symptoms of damage such as discolouration of the needles and needle loss. Over 70 biometric, physiological and chemical parameters were determined for needle and soil samples. Interrelationships between these variables were described by correlation analysis. The most discriminant variables between different groups of trees were found by Fisher weighing. This reduced data set was used for principal component analysis and for the classification of various parameters according to diffe…