Podzol properties at a new site in Serbia

Abstract

The Balkan Peninsula is the southernmost border of podzol distribution in the northern hemisphere. So far, podzols have been recorded and studied at three sites in Serbia, including Mt. Golija, Mt. Goc and Mt. Jablanik, and this paper reveals the results of a pedological and phytocoenological study conducted at a new site on Mt. Jelova Gora. Podzols are most often formed in coniferous forests, while they less frequently occur in deciduous forests, like on Mt. Jelova Gora. In the investigated area, podzols were found in the montane achidophilous beech forest with blueberry (Vaccinio-Fagetum moesiacae montanum Fuk. 1969) and the montane beech forest with holly (Ilici-Fagetutn montanum Gajie 1979), in which they had not been recorded before. The parent rock (quartz conglomerate) plays a key role in the formation of podzols on Mt. Jelova Gora. together with the occurence of blueberry ( Vaccinium myrtilhis L.), which slows down the transformation of organic waste, is a producer of raw humus, and thus an indicator of acid reaction soils. Finally, it should be pointed out that podzol is a very rare soil type, which is highly interesting for the relevant scientific and professional circles in Serbia and the entire Balkan Peninsula.