Effect of site conditions and tree species composition on physico-chemical properties of soil environment in the Western Carpathians area

Abstract

The objective of pedological research conducted in the Kněhyně–Čertův mlýn National Nature Reserve was to verify to what extent the properties of the soil environment are influenced by: a) chemistry of soil-forming substrate, b) site conditions, c) species composition of forest stand. The results of this study document that the soil taxonomic units in the area of interest are of podzol character and that the altitudinal soil zonality has not developed there. The total content of basic macrobioelements in soil-forming substrates is not in correlation with their accessible fraction in top genetic horizons of the profile depth. The results of this study also show that lead content reaches a significantly hazardous boundary level at sites of ridge stands in the exposure of northern quadrants. The soil environment under forest stands with prevailing Norway spruce (Picea abies/L./ Karst.) is enriched with C-compounds and active humus in the entire profile more than the soil under stand types with prevailing European beech (Fagus sylvatica). In top horizons of soil Norway spruce influences significantly negatively humus quality (C:N) and also the content of accessible potassium which decreases in humification horizons below the limit of 200 mg∙kg-1.