Characterization of soils on consolidated limestone and its relations to grassland vegetation

Abstract

Understanding the relations between soil features and plant responses is of significant importance for agriculture production and nature conservation. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the importance of the soil’s physical and chemical features’ influence on the plant species composition and richness in grasslands studied on the limestone massif in eastern Serbia (Mt. Rtanj). The data set included 22 phytosociological relevés, the same number of corresponding mixed soil samples (0-10 cm depth) and 8 soil profiles. Two vegetation types were distinguished by numerical classification: Saturejion montanae and Festucion valesiacae. The results of the Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) indicated that the most important soil parameters affecting the species composition in the grassland ecosystems were humus, the content of calcium, soil exchange capacity and base saturation, in addition to total acidity, pH and soil depth. The communities of both vegetation types are developed on Leptosols and Phaeozems. Under similar physical and chemical conditions of the soil, the grassland vegetation exhibits differences in floristic composition.