Effect of land use on group and fractional composition of humus in rendzina soils in Serbia

Abstract

The effect of land use on group and fractional composition of humus was examined in 13 rendzina profiles under forests, 12 profiles under grassland and 8 profiles under arable fields in different parts of Serbia where rendzinas are typically found. The difference regarding land use of rendzina soils (depending on cultural practices or absence of any, and different amounts and quality of plant residues) under forest, grassland or arable fields had a highly significant statistical effect on humus group composition and the fractional composition of humic and fulvic acids. Human activities have brought about some positive changes regarding humus composition by promoting its stable component in rendzinas under grassland and arable fields, which is not the case in forest rendzina. The conversion of forests into grasslands and arable fields did not significantly affect the type of humus in rendzina soils, which remained characteristic of that soil type

Humus Composition of Rendzina Soils in Different Environmental Conditions of Serbia

“…Dynamics of some organic matter fractions along altitude cannot be connected with clay size fraction content or pH values of soil. Land use has significant influence on organic matter composition in Rendzinas of Serbia [6]. Rendzinas under forest are dominant on lower altitudes, while on higher altitudes Rendzinas under forest, grassland and arable are equally present, so actual differences in organic matter composition on various altitudes cannot be accredited to direct influence of land use.…”

“…They are under various forest and grass communities or are cultivated. Hitherto research have shown that carbon content and organic matter composition are influenced by leaching of carbonates and basic cations, and also by the change in land use [5,6,7].…”

Humification degree of Rendzina soil humic acids influenced by carbonate leaching and land use

“…Soil cultivation influenced the structure of arable Rendzinas significantly, causing a decrease of the coefficient of soil structure and stability of structural aggregates (Cupać et al, 2006b). Rendzinas under grass and arable Rendzinas have decreased humus and nitrogen contents (Cupać et al, 2006a), and increased a portion of stable humus, but the same humus type (Cupać et al, 2007).…”