Soil quality and organic carbon ratios in mountain agroecosystems of South-east Spain
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Miralles Mellado, Isabel; Ortega Pérez, Raúl; Almendros, Gonzalo; Sánchez Marañón, Manuel; Soriano Rodríguez, MiguelDate
2009-04-15Abstract
Soil physical and chemical characteristics as well as climatic and geomorphological factors have been determined in 68 sites of a mountain calcimorphic ecosystem (Sierra María-Los Vélez Natural Park, Almería) in Southeastern Spain. Land use and vegetation were natural pine forest, evergreen oak forest, reforested pine forest of different ages, bush, juniper forest, and olive, almond and cereal crops under conventional tillage. By using multivariate data treatments, 17 soil variables were processed. A large part of the total variability was controlled by local topographical features through their effect on moisture retention and vegetation. Most characteristics were significantly correlated with total organic C (mean = 28.5 ± 4.6 g kg− 1), which demonstrates the central role of the organic matter in the functioning of the whole ecosystem. New soil quality descriptors consisting of ratios to soil organic carbon were obtained, informing about the specific activity (per C unit) or performa...
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Forest soils
Cleared soils
Physico-chemical indicators
Aggregate stability/C
Porosity/C