Soil-geomorphology relationships determine the distribution of the main subalpine grasslands in the Central Pyrenees (NE-Spain)

Badía Villas,David (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Buendia García, Lucía ; Longares Aladrén, Luis Alberto (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Martí-Dalmau, Clara (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Peña-Monné, José Luis (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; González-Pérez, José Antonio ; Gómez-García, Daniel

Resumen: The two most widely extended mountain grasslands in Europe (Nardus-mat grasslands and chalk grasslands) are distributed forming complex patterns. In the Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park
Central Pyrenees, NE-Spain), they grow as secondary pastures within the treeline ecotone at the subalpine belt. This work aims to show the influence of soil properties on the spatial distribution of these pastures, under a dynamic geomorphology. Soils are sampled under both grasslands, which grow on different cumulative levels: Nardus-mat grasslands in the upper level (L1) and chalk grasslands in the lower level (L2). Soils in L1 have a significantly higher acidity, lower soluble ions and exchangeable calcium content than those in L2, reflecting a more intense leaching process, consistent with a longer period of slope stability. Qualitative differences are detected in the soil organic matter of the soil, using carbon and nitrogen isotopes, lighter in L2 soils than in L1 soils, due to a higher proportion of legumes growing in L2 (chalk grasslands). Soils in L1 and L2 shared many physical properties, such as a fine and homogeneous texture in the whole rofile (silty clay or silty clay loam), and high aggregate stability and porosity in the topsoil. In contrast, the soils in L2 are shallower than in L1, which reduces their water-holding apacity. The soil is classified as Orthoeutric Cambisol (Clayic, Humic) in L1 but its rejuvenation, by gully erosion, transforms it into an Hypereutric Leptosol (Loamic, Ochric) in L2 (Typic Haplocryept and Lithic Haplocryept, respectively by Soil Taxonomy system).
Definitely, the distribution of both grasslands for the studied area is linked to two cumulative levels of different ages, which in turn is strongy related to different soil properties.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139121

Año: 2020

Publicado en: SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 734 (2020), 139121 [13 pp.]
ISSN: 0048-9697

Factor impacto JCR: 7.963 (2020)

Categ. JCR: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES rank: 25 / 273 = 0.092 (2020) - Q1 - T1

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 1.794 - Environmental Chemistry (Q1) - Waste Management and Disposal (Q1) - Pollution (Q1) - Environmental Engineering (Q1)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/S51-17R

Tipo y forma: Article (PostPrint)

Área (Departamento): Área Geografía Física (Dpto. Geograf. Ordenac.Territ.)
Área (Departamento): Área Producción Vegetal (Dpto. CC.Agrar.y Medio Natural)
Área (Departamento): Área Edafología y Quím.Agríco. (Dpto. CC.Agrar.y Medio Natural)