Catenas of Grain Size and Chemical Forest Soil Properties in Outer Western Carpathians of the Czech Republic Characterized by Principal Component Analysis

Abstract

More frequent occurence of hillwashes in altitudinal‑differentiated landscapes causes changes of relationships among terrain, bedrock and soils. The aim of the study was to characterize catenas of the terrain‑bedrock‑soil relationships by PCA of forest soil properties generalized into 2 × 2 km grid in Outer Western Carpathians (OWC) of the Czech Republic. The spatial relationships of the soil catenas with terrain and rocks were verified by ANOVA. Typification of the catenas was carried out by frequencies in the presented terrain and bedrock types according to biogeographical division system. Base saturation, CaO and P2O5 divide forest soils in OWC to ten catenas. The catenas characterized by moderate correspondence of soils and bedrock are concentrated in Outer Depressions, while catenas with moderate correspondence of soils and terrain are concentrated in Flysch Range. The Outer Carpathian Depressions are covered predominantly by floodplains, flat waterlogged, loess‑covered and luvic hillycountries (67% of the grid). The Flysch Range is covered predominantly by proluvial slopes, broken hillcountries and submountain to mountain slopes (65% of the grid). The Floodplains, broken nutrient‑medium hillycountries and mountain slopes have medium to marked soil horizon properties heterogeneity. The flat landforms, proluvial and submountain slopes have moderate soil properties heterogeneity. The statistical significant differences between values of properties at A and B horizons suggest rate of an surface matter translocation effect on the soil catena heterogeneity.

The spatial dependence of base saturation on forest soil grain and chemical composition seen through individual and typological divisions

“…Geograficky vážená regrese byla optimalizována z nejvýznamněji korelujících obsahů zrnitostních frakcí písku (0,1−2,0 mm), prášku (0,05-0,1 mm), prachu (0,01-0,05 mm) a jílu (< 0,002 mm), chemických vlastností pH/H2O, obsahu organického uhlíku (Corg), celkových obsahů Al2O3, CaO, MgO a P2O5 a nadmořské výšky (Samec, Mikita, Bajer 2019). Bazická saturace byla zjištěna z poměru mezi obsahem výměnných bazí a potenciální kationtové výměnné kapacity.…”

“…Obsah P2O5 rozčlenil úživnost lesních půd mezi Karpaty a Českým masivem. Zatímco poměrně vyrovnané obsahy P2O5 na českém území se výrazně nepodílejí na diferenciaci půdní úživnosti, rozdílné obsahy fosforu ve Vnějších Západních Karpatech vymezují úživnost v úvalech, bradlech a flyšovém pásmu (Samec, Mikita, Bajer 2019).…”