Do you think that the low abundance and diversity of plants on ophiolitic soils could be largely due to the poor soil depth since most of the weathering products are soluble? A bit like limestones, I suppose.
Article Pedogeochemical evolution and trace elements availability to...
Could it be related to the high Cr, Ni content of these soils? There also seems to be some evidence of low Ca/Mg ratios having an effect on plants (maybe via poor soil physical properties)...
Hi,
you rise the question of the "serpentine factors" affecting the soil. You will find mainy publications. Have a look to the study of El Ghalabzouri et al: L’affleurement ophiolitique du Groupe de Voltri (Ligurie, Italie): hétérogénéité des sols et diversité floristique.
Soils develped on serpentine have low Ca and high Mg concentration, high concentration of heavy metals like Cr, Ni. Low concentration P, N, and K, hence fertility is low and agriculture nort possible . As consequence the fiew plant found on those edaphic condition are well adapted and endemic. These are the main limiting factors.
Adding to that the fact that the soil do not present high soil profile development, the soil are shallow and mainly rocky, in the WRB soil classification system there are (probably) mainly Leptosols, hence water storage of the soil is low.
Thank you both :-) I was wondering if anyone had done any controlled experimentation to assess the relative importance of the geochemistry and soil depth as controlling factors. I will have a look through the literature you suggest Jerome
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Agriculture
- Soil Science
- Soil