Branch tip death, leaf chlorosis and necrosis, leaf size, and leaf chloride content were measured in samples of aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) collected from stands around nine potash mine–refinery complexes in Saskatchewan. Branch tip death and leaf chloride content were highest in stands near the mines. The proportion of injured leaves and variance in leaf size were highest in the region of maximum branch damage close to the mines. Most damage was confined to areas extending up to 6 km northwest and southeast of the mines and up to 3 km northeast and southwest. This pattern was related to prevailing wind directions. Variability in injury probably results from variation in salt dust emissions, meteorological conditions, and plant susceptibility. Branch tip death is the best indicator of injury from airborne salt.
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Townley‐Smith et al. (1980) studied this question.
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