The impact of introduced and indigenous woody plants on change of selected soil chemical properties in the arboretum Mlyňany

Abstract

DOI: 10.15414/afz.2015.18.02.44–48

Received 17. December 2014 ǀ Accepted 08. November 2014ǀ Available online 29. June 2015

In this work has been studied the impact of changed vegetation on selected soil chemical characteristics of Stagni-Haplic Luvisol in the Arboretum Mlyňany. Soil samples from A horizons were collected under growths of anthropogenically introduced (cherry laurel and Jeffrey pine) and indigenous (Norway spruce, common yew and oak-hornbeam) tree species. Since the original vegetation in Arboretum was oak-hornbeam forest, the soil under rest of that forest was used as control. Obtained results suggest that anthropogenic change of vegetation highly significantly affected the soil chemizm in A horizons under both, indigenous and introduced tree species. Cherry laurels and Jeffrey pines (their litter, root exudates) had the most significant effect on changes of studied soil chemical properties compared to the soil under original oak-hornbeam forest. The most affected were values of sum of base cations, base saturation, content of available phosphorus and exchangeable aluminum.