Edaphic characteristics of degraded areas on Zlatibor

Abstract

The forest formed natural vegetation in most of the study area, but due to settlement it was cleared by cutting and burning. Today, meadows and pastures extend at the site of former forests. Western parts of Zlatibor are covered with conifer forest (forests of scotch pine - Pinus silvestris L., and austrian pine - Pinus nigra Arnold). In addition to the pine forests, which mainly inhabit steeper slopes and poorer, shallower soils, sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl., hop hornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia S co p.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) are rarely present in the area of Zlatibor. Studying of the soils in the area of Zlatibor covered soils on two types of parent rock: serpentine and limestone. Soil properties are primarily conditioned by relief, parent rock type and characteristics, climate, altitude, vegetation type, method of use and the impact of erosion. Also, soil characteristics are significantly influenced by the supply of soil humus, total nitrogen, plant-available P2O5 and K2O as well as trace elements supply. The paper presents the results of the study of basic physical and chemical soil properties, soil classification affiliation, as well as the content of trace elements (zinc - Zn, copper - Cu lead - Pb, cadmium - Cd, nickel - Ni and chromium - Cr).