Lixisols and Acrisols on the territory of Strandzha Mountain

Ludmila Malinova, Kameliya Petrova and Bilyana Grigorova-Pesheva

Abstract: The main aim was to conduct a pilot study of diagnostic characteristics of soils on the territory of the Strandzha mountain and their classification according to WRB requirements (2006, 2007), including microbiological activity in stands with different tree composition. A total of seven soil profiles were studied. Soil and litter samples were collected from territories where it was previously known that the soils were with a clay – enriched subsoil (defined as Luvisols, Alisols and Zheltozem-podzolic soils). Soil classification indicators have been investigated according to the requirements of World Reference Base for soil resources. Five of the soil profiles were classified as Lixisols and two as Acrisols. On the second taxonomy level for Lixisols applied prefix qualifier – haplic and suffix qualifier – hypereutric. For Acrisols applied prefix qualifier haplic. Lixisols and Acrisols were established on the territory of Strandzha Mountain for the first time in oak and beech stands. Analysis of the heterotrophic microflora’s total number and the structure of the microbial communities of two soil profiles was carried out. The different tree species and the period of litterfall affect the number of microbocenosis and the distribution of microbial groups in it. In the beech stand (Fagus orientalis Lipsky), the processes of enhanced transformation of easily degradable soil organic matter (SOM) predominated, compared to oak stand (Quercus frainetto Ten. and Quercus petraea Liebl,) where more advanced processes of transformation of SOM were observed.

Keywords: Acrisols; argic horizon; Lixisols; oak stands; soil classification; soil microflora

Date published: 2021-02-25