Naslov
Soil properties in beech-fir forests on Mt. Medvednica (NW Croatia)

Autori
Pernar, Nikola ; Vukelić, Joso ; Bakšić, Darko ; Baričević, Dario ; Perković, Ivan ; Miko, Slobodan ; Vrbek Boris

Izvornik
Periodicum biologorum (0031-5362) 111 (2009), 4; 427-434

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
beech-fire forests; soil properties; biogenic elements

Sažetak
Background and purpose: Beech-fir forests in Croatia have very broad edaphic amplitude. On Mt. Medvednica they are predominantly developed on dystric cambisol, but also, to a smaller extent, on several other soil types. The purpose of this paper is to investigate soil properties in these forests and establish relations with pedogenetic factors, and especially with the bedrock and the relief. Materials and methods: Research is based on the study of 14 soil profiles and soil samples from the horizons, and on the analysis of 39 composite samples from the surface 5 cm of soil. The following parameters were assessed from the samples: the pH in water and 0.01 M CaCl2, the carbonate content, and the content of biogenic elements Org C., Total N, P, K, Ca and Mg, as well as the texture of profile samples. Results: The dominant soils in beech-fir forests on Medvednica are dystric cambisol and eutric cambisol. Most of the profiles are situated on moderately steep and steep slopes, so their A-horizon is colluvially influenced. All the profiles are shallower than 100 cm, except for the stagnosol profile. The most variable parameter in the surface 5 cm is organic carbon, ranging from 40.9 to 367.2 g kg-1, whereas the pH value measured in water suspension oscillates between 3.69 and 7.21 and corresponds with the calcium content in the soil, with carbonate substrates in the central part of the range and with the carbonate quantity in the soil. Conclusions: The distribution range of beech-fir forests on Mt. Medvednica is highly complex both from the pedogenetic and pedophysiographic aspect. It provides a good basis for the application of more complex models of spatial prediction of soil properties, but also for phytocoenological and ecological-management profiling of beech-fir forests.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Geologija, Šumarstvo

POVEZANOST RADA