J 2016

Geomorphic controls of soil spatial complexity in a primeval mountain forest in the Czech Republic

DANĚK, Pavel, Pavel ŠAMONIL and Jonathan D. PHILLIPS

Basic information

Original name

Geomorphic controls of soil spatial complexity in a primeval mountain forest in the Czech Republic

Authors

DANĚK, Pavel (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Pavel ŠAMONIL (203 Czech Republic) and Jonathan D. PHILLIPS (840 United States of America)

Edition

Geomorphology, AMSTERDAM, ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV, 2016, 0169-555X

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

40104 Soil science

Country of publisher

Netherlands

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

Impact factor

Impact factor: 2.958

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/16:00090974

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

UT WoS

000385323700022

Keywords in English

Soil geomorphology; Biogeomorphology; Pedodiversity; Graph theory; Soil forming factors; Old-growth forests

Tags

Tags

International impact, Reviewed
Změněno: 21/1/2020 09:26, Mgr. Marie Šípková, DiS.

Abstract

V originále

A total of 954 soil profiles were described and classified to soil taxonomic units (STU). We analyzed soil diversity complexity using a novel graph theory approach. Pairwise tests of observed adjacencies, spectral radius and a newly proposed sequentiality index were used to describe and quantify the complexity of the spatial pattern of STUs. This was then decomposed into the contributions of three soil factor sequences (SFS), (i) degree of weathering and leaching processes, (ii) hydromorphology, and (iii) proportion of rock fragments. Six Reference Soil Groups and 37 second-level soil units were found. A significant portion of pedocomplexity occurred at distances shorter than the 22 m spacing of neighbouring soil profiles. The spectral radius (an index of complexity) of the pattern of soil spatial adjacency was 14.73, to which the individual SFS accounted for values of 2.0, 8.0 and 3.5, respectively. Significant sequentiality was found for degree of weathering and hydromorphology. Exceptional overall pedocomplexity was particularly caused by enormous spatial variability of soil wetness, representing a crucial soil factor sequence in the primeval forest. Moreover, the soil wetness gradient was partly spatially correlated with the gradient of soil weathering and leaching, suggesting synergistic influences of topography, climate, (hydro)geology and biomechanical and biochemical effects of individual trees. The pattern of stony soils, random in most respects, resulted probably from local geology and quaternary biogeomorphological processes. Thus, while geomorphology is the primary control over a very locally complex soil pattern, microtopography and local disturbances, mostly related to the effects of individual trees, are also critical. Considerable local pedodiversity seems to be an important component of the dynamics of old-growth mixed temperate mountain forests, with implications for decreasing pedodiversity in managed forests and deforested areas.