Floristic and edaphic characteristics of beech and fir forests on mt. Maljen

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a research of the ecology of beech and fir forests in the area of Mt. Maljen. Compared to their distribution in the Moesian province, beech and fir forests cover a much larger surface area in the Illyrian province. However, in Serbia this association is mainly distributed sporadically, except on Mt. Goc where it builds a large regional belt. The association of beech and fir occurs on different types of bedrock, ranging from acidic to ultrabasic ones and on a wide variety of soils, including humus-accumulative (mull-rankers) soils, brown (eutric), lessive and diluvial soils. In the site of Divcibare, located in the central part of Mt. Maljen, beech and fir forests occur sporadically. The Maljen mountain massif is predominantly composed of serpentinite and peridotite of Jurassic age, which is a highly specific bedrock in terms of chemical composition, crystal structure, decomposition and other properties, while it also has a strong impact on the genesis and properties of soil. Numerous rock cracks cause rapid water infiltration, leading to dry and warm soils formed on them, especially at the initial stages of soil formation. In addition to that, serpentinite is characterized by calcium deficiency and high concentrations of magnesium, iron, nickel, cobalt and chromium, which has an impact on soil properties and subsequently on the floristic composition. Another property of serpentinite is that it is home to diverse flora and vegetation, with beech and fir forests as one of its segments. The three soil types studied on the serpentinite of Mt. Maljen in this research are illimerized, pseudogleyic and eutric brown soils.