Toposequences of forest soil properties between differently elevated igneous and sedimentary mountain ranges

Abstract

Soil properties are significantly, but unevenly, conditioned by the landscape relief and/or bedrock. Here, we compare forest soil properties along toposequences between differently elevated areas of denuded Variscan mountain ranges and the alpine- fold Carpathians in the Czech Republic (Central Europe). Correlating soil properties were selected by multivariate analysis of granu larity, physicochemical and chemical variables. Toposequences were defined from the selected soil properties through principal component analysis and vector overlays with relief and bedrock types. The relief or bedrock effects were compared by nonpar ametric tests of soil horizon properties between average values at the toposequences and weighted averages of the penetrating geological subdivision types. Eleven forest soil toposequence types were distinguished along wetland, lowland and highland conditions. Particular toposequences were characterised by different grain fractions, Corg, Al2O3 and P2O5 between soil horizons. The soil- forming effect of relief appeared to be more pronounced in flat areas, with marked transitions between rocks; on the other hand, the bedrock effect was more pronounced in geologically less structured fold areas. The different relief or bedrock effects on soil- forming conditions suggest specification of soil body assessment during terrestrial ecosystem classification.