Soil chemistry as a factor of forest vegetation properties on Mt. Bilogora

Background and Purpose: Soil acidity and lack (or disbalance) of nutrients are pedochemical conditions which have a restrictive impact on root growth and development in humid areas. There is good correspondence between exchangeable cations and the soil pH value ratio. The phytosequence of the herbaceous layer in Central European beech forests is determined by a fall in pH values and exchangeable Ca(++) ion concentrations. There are several important species of herbaceous vegetation in this phytosequence. Materials and Methods: Phytocoenological relives were taken and the soil in the surface layer at a depth of 10 cm was analyzed (pH, basic cations, total nitrogen) in two forest areas in the eastern (BE) and western (B W) part of Mt. Bilogora. Results: The total range of pH values is 4.28-5.94. The populations (BW and BE) differ in terms of pH values, total nitrogen, and the overall number of species in the herbaceous layer as well as with regard to 6 individual species. Correlation between the measured pedological parameters was established for 12 plant species in the herbaceous layer. Conclusions: From the phytocoenological aspect, the most significant pedological parameters were pH values and the total nitrogen content, Ca(++) and Mg(++). The indicator level was confirmed by the species Mercurialis perennis and Lathyrus vernus, while test results that related to the species Asarum europaeum and Festuca drymeia should be tested on a larger sample. Future research should also include iron and aluminum ions, as well as the role of the genus Tilia in the biological cycle of matter in a forest ecosystem.