Piezometrical measurements as an aid in establishing a typology of forest communities growing on hydromorphic soils

Abstract

Hydromorphy is an important ecological factor of many forest soils and a source of problems for forest management. The study of hydromorphic forest sites presents specific problems: the pedological characters do not always reveal the existence of an actual water table (Becker 1972), the vegetation imperfectly reflects the above phenomenon, especially for a temporary water table. The observation of the water level by piezome ters allows one a better understanding of the real 'functioning' of these soils as well as of the forest ecosystem. This study is an example of utilization of piezometrical measurements as an aid to devel ope a typology.