Soil formation in kettle holes from high altitudes in central Apennines, Italy

Corti, Giacomo; Cocco, Stefania; Basili, Marco; Cioci, C.; Warburton, Jeff; Agnelli, Alberto

doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2011.10.016

Cited by 22 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Once the kettle holes formed, because of their concave form they accumulated material washed in from the slopes or wind blown from other sources. Because of this, on the Majella massif, the filling particles had a texture ranging from sandy loam to clay loam (Corti et al 2012) and consequently were easily weatherable because of the high specific surface. Thus, even if it contained limestone grains, during millennia the accumulated material produced superficial horizons with neutral to sub-acid pHs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Much information on physiography and geology of the massif is reported in Corti et al. (). Here, it suffices to report that the main glacial valleys are covered by thick morainic deposits (calcareous rocks) that form closely associated small mounds ( kames ) with interspersed depressions ( kettle holes ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The massif is dominated by 30 summits in excess of 2000 m above sea level and shows geomorphological features of past glacial conditions. Much information on physiography and geology of the massif is reported in Corti et al (2012). Here, it suffices to report that the main glacial valleys are covered by thick morainic deposits (calcareous rocks) that form closely associated small mounds (kames) with interspersed depressions (kettle holes).…”

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Italy, alpine soils are diffused at elevated altitudes in the Alps and the Apennines. On the Apennines, a mountain range consisting of parallel chains extending about 1500 km North to South, the Majella massif has caught our interest for the abundance of kettle holes at the bottom of the principal valleys (Corti et al 2012). The areas dotted by kettle holes host a lot of colonies of snow vole (Chionomys nivalis Martins), a little fossorial mammal.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Snow vole (Chionomys nivalisMartins) affects the redistribution of soil organic matter and hormone‐like activity in the alpine ecosystem: ecological implications

Pizzeghello

Cocco

Francioso

et al. 2015

Ecology and Evolution

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In alpine environments, colonies of snow vole (Chionomys nivalis Martins) cause strong pedoturbation, which may affect humification process and soil organic matter (SOM) cycling, with repercussions on the hormone‐like activity of organics. We investigated the effect of snow vole pedoturbation on the chemical and spectroscopic features of soil organic fractions, and the potential hormone‐like activity of humic and fulvic acids (HA, FA). The study site was located on the high‐mountain environment of the Majella massif (central Italy). Pedoturbated and regular soils were morphologically described and characterized for pH and content of total organic carbon, total extractable carbon, HA, and FA. Both HA and FA were extracted and investigated using attenuated total reflectance/Fourier transform infrared (ATR/FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance with high‐resolution magic angle spinning (HRMAS‐NMR), and 1H‐13C heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC). HA and FA were also tested for their auxin‐like and gibberellin‐like activities. Results provide evidences that bioturbated and regular soils contain a poorly decomposed SOM, but HA and FA with a well‐defined molecular structure. The HA and FA from both bioturbated and regular soils show a hormone‐like activity with a different allocation along the soil profile. In the regular soil, the highest auxin‐like activity was shown by HA and FA from Oe1 horizon, while gibberellin‐like activity was expressed by FA from Oe2 horizon. Burrowing activity determines a redistribution of organics throughout the profile with a relatively high auxin‐like activity in the FA from straw tunnel wall (STW) and gibberellin‐like activity in the HA from vole feces (VF). The relative high presence of carboxylic acids, amides, proteins, and amino acids in the FA from STW and the aromatic moieties in the HA from VF put evidences for their different behavior. The fact that snow vole activity has modified the chemical and biological properties of SOM in these soils otherwise considered governed only by low temperature has important ecological implications such as the preservation of soil fertility and vegetal biodiversity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Snow vole (Chionomys nivalisMartins) affects the redistribution of soil organic matter and hormone‐like activity in the alpine ecosystem: ecological implications

Pizzeghello

Cocco

Francioso

et al. 2015

Ecology and Evolution

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“…1) and, in particular, in the Cannella Valley, whose altitude ranges from 1900 to 2750 m, and has a southeast orientation. The mean annual precipitation is about 2100 mm (mostly snow) and the mean annual air temperature is 2.3 C. January is the coldest month, with an average temperature of À4.3 C, whereas August is the warmest month, with an average temperature of 11.4 C (Corti et al, 2012). The area, that experienced a relatively recent glacier recession initiated about 12,700 and ended about 11,000 years before present (Giraudi, 2004), is mantled by thick morainic deposits (till) mostly made of limestone, from which the present soils developed.…”

Section: Site Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rhizosphere effect of three plant species of environment under periglacial conditions (Majella Massif, central Italy)

Massaccesi

Benucci

Gigliotti

et al. 2015

Soil Biology and Biochemistry

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Accumulation of soil phosphorus within closed depressions of a drained agricultural watershed

Mumbi,

Williams,

Penn

et al. 2024

Soil Science Soc of Amer J

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Closed depressions are common landscape features across glaciated landscapes. Erosion and runoff from depression hillslopes may result in phosphorus (P) accumulation near the bottom of the depression, with this “legacy P” potentially at risk of loss to surface waters when drained via tile drainage. We assessed spatial patterns of soil P within a tile‐drained watershed in northeastern Indiana as a function of landscape position and agricultural management practices. Paired soil samples (depression bottom vs. hillslope contributing area) were collected from agricultural (n = 14) depressions at four depths (0–60 cm). Water‐extractable phosphorus (WEP), Mehlich‐3 extracted phosphorus (M3‐P), total phosphorus (TP), Hedley P fractions, and other physical and chemical characteristics were determined. To assess the risk of P loss, P desorption from surface soils (0–5 cm) was quantified using flow‐through experiments. Results showed that WEP, M3‐P, and TP were 2–10 times greater in the depression bottom compared to hillslopes across all depths. Long‐term management practices such as P application history and tillage influenced the magnitude of soil P concentration, degree of P saturation, and vertical stratification of soil P. Flow‐through experiments highlighted that the risk of P loss was highly dependent on M3‐P concentration for both hillslope and depression soils. Findings therefore indicate that closed depressions may act as hotspots for P cycling and loss in tile‐drained watersheds. Including low‐lying depressional areas as part of a routine soil sampling strategy combined with variable rate P application could lessen P accumulation in depressions and reduce P loading to surface waters.

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Soil formation in kettle holes from high altitudes in central Apennines, Italy

Cited by 22 publications

References 39 publications

Snow vole (Chionomys nivalisMartins) affects the redistribution of soil organic matter and hormone‐like activity in the alpine ecosystem: ecological implications

Snow vole (Chionomys nivalisMartins) affects the redistribution of soil organic matter and hormone‐like activity in the alpine ecosystem: ecological implications

Rhizosphere effect of three plant species of environment under periglacial conditions (Majella Massif, central Italy)

Accumulation of soil phosphorus within closed depressions of a drained agricultural watershed

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