Changes in Soil Features and Phytomass during Vegetation Succession in Sandy Areas

Oimahmad Rahmonov, Sylwia Skreczko and Małgorzata Rahmonov
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Oimahmad Rahmonov: Institute of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
Sylwia Skreczko: Institute of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
Małgorzata Rahmonov: Earth Sciences Museum, University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland

Land, 2021, vol. 10, issue 3, 1-26

Abstract: This research was conducted on an area of inland sands characterised by various degrees of overgrowth by vegetation and soil stabilisation. This landscape’s origin is not natural but is connected to human industrial activities dating from early medieval times, which created a powerful centre for mining and metallurgy. This study aims to identify the changes in the above- and belowground phytomass in the initial stages of succession and their influence on the chemical properties and morphology of the soil. It was found that Salix arenaria dominated in primary phytomass production in all plots tested. The amounts of this species found in each community were as follows: 8.55 kg/400 m 2 (algae–mosses), 188.97 kg/400 m 2 (sand grassland–willow), 123.44 kg/400 m 2 (pine–willow–mosses), 14.63 kg/400 m 2 (sand grassland–mosses–willow), and 196.55 kg/400 m 2 (willow–pine–sand grassland). A notable share of Koeleria glauca was found in the phytomass production of Plots IV (45.73 kg) and V (86.16 kg). Basic soil properties (pH, C org , N t ), available plant elements (P), and plant nutrients (Ca, Mg, K, P, Fe) beneath the dominant plant species were examined. Soil acidity (pH) varied greatly, ranging from acidic (pH = 3.2) to weakly acidic (pH = 6.3). The content of organic carbon (C org ) in individual plots beneath the dominant species in the humus horizon ranged from 0.28% to 1.42%. The maximum contents of organic carbon and total nitrogen were found in organic (O) and organic-humus (OA) horizons. The highest Pavail content was found in organic and organic-humus horizons, ranging from 10.41 to 65.23 mg/kg, and in mineral horizons under K. glauca (24.10 mg/kg) and Salix acutifola (25.11 mg/kg). The soil features and phytomass were varied differently across individual sites, representing different stages of succession.

Keywords: above- and belowground biomass; psammophilous grass; soil formation; vegetation development; soil–vegetation link (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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