Canonical and typological analysis of the relationship between soil and trees – A step toward ecosystem management

Abstract

The goal of this study was to establish a correlation between physico-chemical soil properties and tree

species composition using Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). After eliminating the

statistically insignificant soil chemical and physical parameters from the correlation analysis, five

factors remained: soil drainage, drought throughout the soil, drought in the root layer and dryness in

the topsoil during the vegetation period, the average depth of the soil and the average depth of the root

layer. The forest-typological basis was analyzed using data modified from studies such as

phytocoeonological studies (state guidelines and intensity of succession processes), studies of the

hydro-physical properties of the soil and studies of vegetation data for classes of development. The

most significant correlations, without exception, proved to be "saturated (stagnant) soil water" and

"day of drought in the upper soil zone" (axes F1 and F2) which together explained 75 to 85% of the

variance. The results show that hornbeam demonstrates the highest flexibility and durability in

stagnant groundwater and avoids dry soils. Oak was more drought resistant, and its occurrence is

therefore dependent on the depth of the root system. Beech does not tolerate dry soils. The results of

the forest-typological analysis were used to map the distribution of tree species and the soil moisture

deficit and they show clear similarities.

Key words: Canonical correspondence analysis, humidity of the soil, forest typology, ecosystem management.