Soils forming under coniferous forests: 3 types and vegetation
Under the coniferous forests, characteristic types of soils are formed, which have their own characteristics. Let us consider what features the soils that form under coniferous forests have, what types are most common, the conditions for the formation and characteristics of the soil of boreal, dry coniferous and mountain forests. What types of plants make up the vegetation of such forests.
Features
Moderately cold climate, flat or mountainous relief, leaching water regime, seasonal freezing of the soil take an active part in the origin of the soils of coniferous forests. The underlying layer, formed by fallen needles, contains a low amount of nitrogen, organic acids resulting from the activity of fungi.
Acids, due to the washing regime, are washed into the lower layers of the soil. Such conditions form podzolic soils characteristic of the forest zone. It cannot be said that the lands of forests with conifers are rich in humus, the activity of microorganisms in them is slow. They also don't have too many nutrients.
The profile of forest soils consists of litter 3-5 cm thick, has a brown color. The composition of the litter consists mainly of fallen needles, foliage of shrubs, remnants of grass, lichens and mosses. The second, gray-brown humus-eluvial layer extends to a depth of 5-10 cm. It is followed by a fine-grained podzolic horizon, dense, without a clear structure, light ash color, its thickness is 10-20 cm. Below it is a yellow- brown illuvial horizon with parent rock under it.
Most common types
Coniferous forest lands are divided into different types, they are located under boreal, dry coniferous and mountain forests. They are formed under the influence of different soil-forming and climatic conditions.
Boreal forest soil
Occupies a little more than half of the territory of Russia. The climatic conditions here are varied, in winter severe frosts are not uncommon, in summer the average temperature is 10-20 ºС. Humidification prevails over evaporation, although there is not much precipitation. Boreal soils are characterized by poor drainage, low nutrient content.
Such conditions are suitable for the growth of coniferous vegetation, but a short warm period reduces the biological activity of microorganisms. In forest areas, one can often find soils covered with rotted organic matter and peat, they are well moistened all year round.
Soil of dry coniferous forests
The litter consists of needles, foliage, remnants of bark and cones.Mushrooms grow well in it, a lot of soil animals live. They process organic matter and return it to the soil in the form of mineral elements, reduce high acidity. The process of decay of organic matter continues in the lower layers, from where the roots of coniferous plants get food.
In dry forests, mainly pines grow, which prefer soil that is neutral or with low acidity. They do not form dense massifs, they are rarely located, this is how dry forests differ from boreal ones.
Coniferous forests in the mountains
Soils in mountainous areas are thin, especially on the slopes, contain a lot of crushed stone, primary minerals, the profile is not clearly defined. Features and distribution of mountain soils depend on altitudinal zonality, changes in air temperature, and precipitation. Under forests with conifers, brown soils are formed, dense, with a thin fertile layer, not containing a large amount of nutrients.
Vegetation
The land under the forests is infertile, but tall trees grow well on it - pines, cedars, larches, spruces, fir. There are, but in much smaller quantities, alder, birch and aspen. In the southern taiga, ash, oak, beech, linden, hornbeam, maple, elm and other broad-leaved species alternate with conifers.
Under the trees, under the canopy of the forest and on floodplain and upland meadows, herbaceous vegetation grows. In the northern taiga and on the territory of the West Siberian lowland, swamps with their characteristic vegetation are common.
Soils under conifers are formed under the influence of moderately low temperatures, flat or mountainous terrain, predominantly leaching water regime, winter freezing.Humus and the upper layer are formed from fallen needles and leaves of shrubs, they are brown in color, dense in composition, the soil is mostly acidic, thin, and infertile. It does not contain a large amount of humus and mineral components, therefore it has practically no economic value.
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