Ecotone effect reflected by soil reaction and selected physical soil characteristics – Training Forest Enterprise Masaryk Forest Křtiny case study

Ing. Theodore Danso Marfo

Doctoral thesis

Abstract:

Topografické a edafické gradienty obvykle tvoří ekotonální hranice. Ačkoliv jsou vztahy mezi vegetací a edafickými faktory relevantní pro většinu ekotonů, nejsou dostatečně dokumentovány. Tato disertace zkoumá jak se ekotolání efekty odráží v půdní reakci a jejích fyzikálních vlastnostech. Byly odebrány vzorky půdy z hloubky pět centimetrů z celkem jedenácti míst (čtyři lesní, tři ekotonální, čtyři luční a zemědělská) na pozemcích Školního lesního podniku Masrykův les – Křtiny, Poklest a Bukovinka. Vzorky byly testovány na půdní reakce, maximální kapilární kapacitu a minimální vzdušnou kapacitu. Výsledky odhalily pozorovatelné odchylky na všech testovaných faktorech v závislosti na blížících se ekotonálních zónách. Toto potvrzuje vliv půdy na ekotonální efekty i na změnu ve vegetaci.

Abstract:

Topographic and edaphic gradients usually arrange ecotonal boundaries. Although the interrelationships between vegetation and edaphic factors are relevant in most types of ecotones, they are not adequately documented. The clearly defined ecotones at the Bukovinka (forest – meadow ecotone), Proklest (forest – agriculture land ecotone) and Křtiny (forest – meadow ecotone) experimental sites of the Training Forest Enterprise (T.F.E), Masaryk Forest Křtiny, Czech Republic present an opportunity to investigate these interrelationships. This dissertation sought to investigate ecotone effects reflected by soil reaction and selected soil physical properties. 5 cm deep soil samples from eleven sampling spots (4 forest spots; 3 ecotone spots; 4 meadow or agriculture land spots) were taken from Křtiny, Proklest and Bukovinka experimental sites of the ŠLP Masarykův forest and tested for soil reaction, maximum capillary water capacity and minimum air capacity. The results showed a pattern of soil acidity decreasing from the forest stand towards the meadow field, but that increased sharply at the ecotone zone. The water holding capacity showed a decreasing trend approaching the ecotone zone from the meadow region and markedly decreased from the meadow site closest to the ecotone zone. The minimum air capacity showed an increasing trend from the forest region but suddenly declined at the ecotone region. The forest soil was slightly more acidic compared to the agriculture soil with the ecotone zone, recording the lowest pH value. The maximum capillary water capacity was higher in the forest region than in the agriculture land with a sharp decline at the ecotone zone where the lowest value was recorded. The minimum air capacity was much higher in the forest region than in the agriculture land. There was a marked decline at the ecotone region where the lowest value is observed. The results highlight the importance of soil as a factor affecting the distribution of plant communities along ecotones.

Keywords

aktuální půdní reakce, ekoton, biomy, maximální kapilární kapacita, potenciální půdní reakce

Keywords

ecotone, biomes, maximum capillary water, actual soil reaction, potential soil reaction

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 26. 11. 2019

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: doc. Ing. Valerie Vranová, Ph.D.

Mendel University in Brno

Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology

Doctoral programme / field:
Landscape Engineering / Forest Ecology