Genesis and characteristics of the soil in A-R stage in forest ecosystems of NP 'Tara'

Abstract

Different types of soil in A-R stage formed on limestone and serpentinite in forest ecosystems in NP 'Tara' were researched. Based on the specific effect of limestone on the soil genesis and evolution, two types of calcareous limestone bedrocks were distinguished: dense limestones, and soft, marly limestones. Three subtypes of black earth were studied on dense limestones. They are: organogenic, organo-mineral and brownised soils. One soil type was researched on soft, marly limestones: rendzina, the leached variety. One soil type was researched on serpentinites, within the A-R stage: humus-siliceous soil (ranker), subtype eutric ranker. This paper also presents the evaluation of ecological and productive characteristics of the study soils. If the soil is observed separately, regardless of the tree species growing on it, the soils in A-R stage in NP 'Tara' cannot be evaluated as highly productive. However, in all plant communities on the soils in A-R stage on limestone, the values of average volume, current volume increment, and basal area were high. The unfavourable physical characteristics of the soil in the area of NP 'Tara' are compensated by the effect of humid climate. On the study eutric humus siliceous soils in the area of NP 'Tara', in the natural and artificially established stands of Scots pine and Austrian pine, the ecological and productive value is conditioned by numerous factors and it is mainly limited by unfavourable physical characteristics. Regardless of the unfavourable ecological and productive characteristics of the soil, the natural and artificially established stands of Scots pine and Austrian pine are in the coeno-ecological optimum.