engleski

The accumulation and properties of surface humus layer in mixed selection forests of fir on different substrates

The accumulation of organic matter in the surface, organic horizon (forest floor) has been investigated in two plant communities, Blechno-Abietetum (B-A) and Omphalodo-Fagetum (O-F) in the same climate. The dominant soil type in the community B-A is podzol. Dystric cambisol occurs in the inclusions, whereas the dominant soil type in the community O-F is calcocambisol with melanosol (mollic leptosol) in the inclusions. The results showed significant differences in the organic matter accumulation between these two communities. In the community B-A the accumulation of organic matter varies from 46, 614 to 90, 299 kg ha-1 on average, and in the community O-F it is from 7, 536 to 16, 651 kg ha-1. The structure of the forest floor in the community B-A is dominated by over 80% of humified organic matter in the form of the Oh subhorizon. According to the analysis of the forest floor quality, the forest floor in the community O-F contained a higher concentration of Ca and Mg compared to the community B-A. No differences were found in terms of other nutrient concentrations ; however, due to high organic matter accumulations in the forest floor of the community B-A, it accumulated significantly more analysed nutrient elements, with the exception of Ca. High accumulations of organic carbon and total nitrogen are particularly distinct. High total nitrogen accumulation in the Oh subhorizon indicates its relative immobilisation in the community B-A.

forest floor; surface humus layer; nutrient cycling; nutrient immobilisation

nije evidentirano